Recombinant Semliki Forest virus for over-expression and pharmacological characterisation of the histamine H(2) receptor in mammalian cells

An optimization study for expression of the rabies virus glycoprotein (RVGP) in mammalian cell lines using the Semliki Forest virus (SFV)

The Semliki Forest virus (SFV) viral vector has been widely used for transient protein expression. This study aimed to analyze comprehensively the capacity of SFV vector to express rabies lyssavirus glycoprotein (RVGP) in mammalian cells. The assessed parameters were transfection strategy, multiplicity of infection (MOI), harvest time and mammalian cell host. Two transfection approaches, electroporation and lipofection were evaluated to obtain the recombinant SFV, and the electroporation was found to be the most effective. Viral quantification by RT-qPCR was performed to elucidate the relation between the amount of recombinant virus utilized in the infection process and the production levels of the heterologous protein. Four different multiplicities of infection (MOIs = 1; 10; 15; 50) were evaluated using five mammalian cell lines: BHK-21, HuH-7, Vero, L929, and HEK-293T. Protein expression was assessed at two harvest times after infection (24 and 48 h). The recombinant protein generated was characterized by western blot, dot blot, and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), while its concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Similar expression patterns were observed in cell lines BHK-21, HEK-293T, L929, and Vero, with higher RVGP production in the first 24 h. The BHK-21 cells showed yields of up to 4.3 μg per 10⁶ cells when lower MOIs (1 and 10) were used. The HEK-293 T cells also showed similar production (4.3 μg per 10⁶ cells) with MOI of 1, while the L929 and Vero cell lines showed lower expression rates of 2.82 and 1.26 μg per 10⁶ cells, respectively. These cell lines showed lower expression levels at 48 h after infection compared to 24 h. Controversially, in the case of the HuH-7 cell line, RVGP production was higher at 48 h after infection (4.0 μg per 10⁶ cells) and using MOIs of 15 and 50. This work may contribute to optimize the RVGP production using SFV system in mammalian cells. This study can also substantiate for example, the development of approaches that use of SFV for applications for other protein expressions and suggests values for relevant parameters and cell lines of this biotechnique.

Semliki forest virus-based expression of recombinant GPCRs

Due to their importance as targets for drug development, rapid and consistent high-level production of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) has become an essential part of drug discovery. Alphaviruses, particularly recombinant Semliki Forest virus (SFV) particles, have provided the means for expression of a number of GPCRs in a broad range of mammalian host cell lines for pharmacological characterization by determination of receptor binding activity and functional coupling to G proteins. The rapid high-titer virus particle production has made it possible to study a large number of GPCRs in parallel. Moreover, large-scale production in adherent and suspension cultures of mammalian cells has provided sufficient amounts of GPCRs for purification and subsequent structural studies. Furthermore, the high preference for neuronal delivery of SFV particles has allowed functional and localization studies of recombinant proteins in hippocampal slice cultures, in primary neurons, and in vivo.

Overexpression of membrane proteins in mammalian cells for structural studies

The number of structures of integral membrane proteins from higher eukaryotes is steadily increasing due to a number of innovative protein engineering and crystallization strategies devised over the last few years. However, it is sobering to reflect that these structures represent only a tiny proportion of the total number of membrane proteins encoded by a mammalian genome. In addition, the structures determined to date are of the most tractable membrane proteins, i.e., those that are expressed functionally and to high levels in yeast or in insect cells using the baculovirus expression system. However, some membrane proteins that are expressed inefficiently in these systems can be produced at sufficiently high levels in mammalian cells to allow structure determination. Mammalian expression systems are an under-used resource in structural biology and represent an effective way to produce fully functional membrane proteins for structural studies. This review will discuss examples of vertebrate membrane protein overexpression in mammalian cells using a variety of viral, constitutive or inducible expression systems.

Overproduction of human M₃ muscarinic acetylcholine receptor: an approach toward structural studies

Human M(3) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3R), present in both the central and the peripheral nervous system, is involved in several neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. Recently, M3R overexpression has been suggested to play a role in certain forms of cancer, showing promise as a new potential pharmacological target. However, the lack of structural information hampered to develop a new potent selective and potent antagonist. We describe here different strategies for overexpressing functional M3R on the perspective of future biophysical studies. To achieve this goal, four tagged M3R genes were engineered and codon optimized. Different heterologous expression systems, including mammalian cells and viral transfection, were employed to overexpress M3R. Although codon optimization resulted in only twofold to threefold increase of M3R expression, we found that epitope tagging of the synthetic M3R, especially with hemagglutinin and Flag epitope tags, could improve M3R expression levels. On the other hand, viral transfection led to a yield of 27 pmol/mg protein that is the highest level reported so far for this receptor subtype in mammalian cells. Taking together several of the strategies used can help increasing M3R expression, not only to start purification efforts but also for secondary structural analysis trial and functional analyses.

Heterologous expression of human Neuromedin U receptor 1 and its subsequent solubilization and purification

Human Neuromedin U receptor 1 (hNmU-R1) is a member of G protein-coupled receptor family. For structural determination of hNmU-R1, the production of hNmU-R1 in milligram amounts is a prerequisite. Here we reported two different eukaryotic expression systems, namely, Semliki Forest virus (SFV)/BHK-21 and baculovirus/Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cell systems for overproduction of this receptor. In the SFV-based expression system, hNmU-R1 was produced at a level of 5 pmol receptor/mg membrane protein and the yield could be further increased to 22 pmol receptor/mg membrane protein by supplementation with 2% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Around 8 pmol receptor/mg membrane protein could be achieved in baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells. The recombinant hNmU-R1 from SFV- and baculovirus-based systems was functional, with a Kd value of [125I] NmU-23 (rat) similar to that from transiently transfected COS-7 cells, where hNmU-R1 was first identified. With the aid of 1% n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside (LM)/0.25% cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHS), the yield of functional hNmU-R1 could reach 80%. The recombinant receptor from Sf9 cells was purified to homogeneity. The specific binding of the purified receptor to [125I] NmU-23 (rat) indicated that the receptor is bioactive. This is the first report of successful solubilization and purification of hNmU-R1, and will enable functional and structural studies of the hNmU-R1.

Structural genomics on membrane proteins: comparison of more than 100 GPCRs in 3 expression systems

Production of recombinant receptors has been one of the major bottlenecks in structural biology on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The MePNet (Membrane Protein Network) was established to overexpress a large number of GPCRs in three major expression systems, based on Escherichia coli, Pichia pastoris and Semliki Forest virus (SFV) vectors. Evaluation by immunodetection demonstrated that 50% of a total of 103 GPCRs were expressed in bacterial inclusion bodies, 94% in yeast cell membranes and 95% in SFV-infected mammalian cells. The expression levels varied from low to high and the various GPCR families and subtypes were analyzed for their expressability in each expression system. More than 60% of the GPCRs were expressed at milligram levels or higher in one or several systems, compatible to structural biology applications. Functional activity was determined by binding assays in yeast and mammalian cells and the correlation between immunodetection and binding activity was analyzed.

Semliki Forest virus vectors for overexpression of 101 G protein-coupled receptors in mammalian host cells

Semliki Forest virus vectors were applied for the evaluation of 101 G protein-coupled receptors in three mammalian cell lines. Western blotting demonstrated that 95 of the 101 tested GPCRs showed positive signals. A large number of the GPCRs were expressed at high levels suggesting receptor yields in the range of 1 mg/L or higher, suitable for structural biology applications. Specific binding assays on a selected number of GPCRs were carried out to compare the correlation between total and functional protein expression. Ligands and additives supplemented to the cell culture medium were evaluated for expression enhancement. Selected GPCRs were also expressed from mutant SFV vectors providing enhanced protein expression and reduced host cell toxicity in attempts to further improve receptor yields.

Structural biology of G protein-coupled receptors

More than 60% of the current drugs are based on G protein-coupled receptors. Paradoxically, high-resolution structures are not available to facilitate rational drug design. Difficulties in expression, purification, and crystallization of these transmembrane receptors are the reasons for the low success rate. Recent individual and network-based technology development has significantly improved our knowledge of structural biology and might soon bring a major breakthrough in this area.

Large-scale overproduction, functional purification and ligand affinities of the His-tagged human histamine H1 receptor

This report describes an efficient strategy for amplified functional purification of the human H1 receptor after heterologous expression in Sf9 cells. The cDNA encoding a C-terminally histidine-tagged (10xHis) human histamine H1 receptor was used to generate recombinant baculovirus in a Spodoptera frugiperda-derived cell line (IPLB-Sf9). As judged from its ligand affinity profile, functional receptor could be expressed at high levels (30-40 pmol per 10(6) cells). Rapid proteolysis in the cell culture led to limited fragmentation, without loss of ligand binding, but could be efficiently suppressed by including the protease inhibitor leupeptin during cell culture and all subsequent manipulations. Effective solubilization of functional receptor with optimal recovery and stability required the use of dodecylmaltoside as a detergent in the presence of a high concentration of NaCl and of a suitable inverse agonist. Efficient purification of solubilized receptor could be achieved by affinity chromatography over nickel(II) nitrilotriacetic acid resin. Functional membrane reconstitution of purified H1 receptor was accomplished in mixed soybean lipids (asolectin). The final proteoliposomic H1 receptor preparation has a purity greater than 90% on a protein basis and displays a ligand binding affinity profile very similar to the untagged receptor expressed in COS-7 cells. In conclusion, we are able to produce pharmacologically viable H1 receptor in a stable membrane environment allowing economic large-batch operation. This opens the way to detailed studies of structure-function relationships of this medically and biologically important receptor protein by 3D-crystallography, FT-IR spectroscopy and solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

Semliki Forest virus vectors for rapid and high-level expression of integral membrane proteins

Semliki Forest virus (SFV) vectors have been applied for the expression of recombinant integral membrane proteins in a wide range of mammalian host cells. More than 50 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), several ion channels and other types of transmembrane or membrane-associated proteins have been expressed at high levels. The establishment of large-scale SFV technology has facilitated the production of large quantities of recombinant receptors, which have then been subjected to drug screening programs and structure-function studies on purified receptors. The recent Membrane Protein Network (MePNet) structural genomics initiative, where 100 GPCRs are overexpressed from SFV vectors, will further provide new methods and technologies for expression, solubilization, purification and crystallization of GPCRs.

Differential activation of dual signaling responses by human H1 and H2 histamine receptors

Stimulation of human H1 and H2-histamine receptors (HRs) primarily activates signaling pathways to increase intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i and cyclic AMP (cAMP), respectively. Activation of H2-HR in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells by histamine and dimaprit increases both cAMP formation and [Ca2+]i, as determined by cAMP-scintillation proximity assays and fluorescence imaging plate reader (FLIPR) assays. In HEK cells expressing relatively high levels of H2-HR (Bmax=26 pmol/mg protein), histamine and dimaprit are full agonists in eliciting cAMP responses with pEC50 values of 9.30 and 7.72 that are 1000-fold more potent than their respective pEC50 values of 6.13 and 4.91 for increasing [Ca2+]i. The agonist potencies decrease for both responses at lower H2-HR density (5 pmol/mg protein) and dimaprit exhibits partial agonist behavior for the [Ca2+]i response. The inverse agonists ranitidine and cimetidine more potently inhibit cAMP production in the higher expressing H2-HR line. Histamine also activated both signaling pathways via human H1-HRs highly expressed (Bmax=17 pmol/mg protein) in HEK cells, with a 1000-fold greater potency for [Ca2+]i vs. cAMP responses (pEC50=7.86 and 4.82, respectively). These studies demonstrate a markedly different potency for activation of multiple signaling pathways by H1- and H2-HRs that may contribute to the selectivity of histamine responses in vivo.

Semliki forest virus-based expression for versatile use in receptor research

Semliki Forest virus (SFV) vectors have been generated for highly efficient studies on gene expression in a variety of mammalian host cells, including immortalized cell lines as well as primary cells in culture. Moreover, SFV expression has been scaled up for mammalian suspension cultures in spinner flasks and bioreactors for production of large quantities of recombinant proteins for drug screening and purification. The strong preference of expression in neuronal cells in primary cell cultures, in organotypic hippocampal slices and in vivo has made SFV vectors attractive for neurobiological studies. Additionally, the engineering of novel, less cytotoxic and temperature-sensitive SFV mutant vectors has further increased their application range.