Use of Ubp1 protease analog to produce recombinant human growth hormone in Escherichia coli

Growth hormone receptor agonists and antagonists: From protein expression and purification to long-acting formulations

Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) and GH receptor antagonists (GHAs) are used clinically to treat a range of disorders associated with GH deficiency or hypersecretion, respectively. However, these biotherapeutics can be difficult and expensive to manufacture with multiple challenges from recombinant protein generation through to the development of long-acting formulations required to improve the circulating half-life of the drug. In this review, we summarize methodologies and approaches used for making and purifying recombinant GH and GHA proteins, and strategies to improve pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, including PEGylation and fusion proteins. Therapeutics that are in clinical use or are currently under development are also discussed.

Application of a Novel CL7/Im7 Affinity System in Purification of Complex and Pharmaceutical Proteins

We have developed the CL7/Im7 protein purification system to achieve high-yield, high-purity and high-activity (HHH) products in one step. The system is based on the natural ultrahigh-affinity complex between the two small proteins encoded by colicinogenic plasmids carried by certain E. coli strains, the DNAse domain of colicin E7 (CE7; MW ~ 15 kDa) and its natural endogenous inhibitor, the immunity protein 7 (Im7; MW ~ 10 kDa). CL7 is an engineered variant of CE7, in which the toxic DNA-binding and catalytic activities have been eliminated while retaining the high affinity to Im7. CL7 is used as a protein tag, while Im7 is covalently attached to agarose beads. To make the CL7/Im7 technique easy to use, we have designed a set of the E. coli expression vectors for fusion of a target protein to the protease-cleavable CL7-tag either at the N- or the C-terminus, and also have the options of the dual (CL7/His8) tag. A subset of vectors is dedicated for cloning membrane and multisubunit proteins. The CL7/Im7 system has several notable advatantages over other available affinity purification techniques. First, high concentrations of the small Im7 protein are coupled to the beads resulting in the high column capacities (up to 60 mg/mL). Second, an exceptional stability of Im7 allows for multiple (100+) regeneration cycles with no loss of binding capacities. Third, the CL7-tag improves protein expression levels, solubility and, in some cases, assists folding of the target proteins. Fourth, the on-column proteolytic elution produces purified proteins with few or no extra amino acid residues. Finally, the CL7/Im7 affinity is largely insensitive to high salt concentrations. For many target proteins, loading the bacterial lysates on the Im7 column in high salt is a key to high purity. Altogether, these properties of the CL7/Im7 system allow for a one-step HHH purification of most challenging, biologically and clinically significant proteins.

Novel intein-based self-cleaving affinity tag for recombinant protein production in Escherichia coli

We evaluated several intein-based self-cleaving affinity tags for expression and single-step affinity chromatography purification of recombinant proteins produced in Escherichia coli. We used human growth hormone (hGH) as target protein that contains two internal disulfide bridges and an N-terminal phenylalanine. Use of N-terminal thiol-induced Sce VMA1 intein affinity tag resulted in purified hGH deficient in disulfide bonds. Inteins with self-cleavage inducible by pH and/or temperature shift were analyzed. N-terminal Ssp DnaX intein affinity tag resulted in a completely cleaved cytosolic protein, whereas N-terminal Ssp DnaB intein affinity tag resulted in a cytosolic fusion protein incapable of releasing hGH. Periplasmic expression of target protein was analyzed using an N-terminal signal peptide and C-terminal Ssp DnaX pH-inducible self-cleaving affinity tag. The fusion protein was properly expressed in pH 8 buffered culture medium. Fusion of a periplasmic signal peptide to the N-terminus of the POI allowed secretion to the periplasmic region and presence of the natural N-terminal amino acid of the POI following cleavage. Periplasmic expression of hGH fused to this novel C-terminal DnaX intein-based self-cleaving affinity tag made possible expression and purification of hGH protein containing disulfide bonds and free of extra amino acids.

Identification of new genes and quantitative trait locis associated with growth curve parameters in F2 chicken population using genome-wide association study

The markers which are correlated with the growth curve parameters help in understanding the characteristics of individual growth during the rearing of livestock. This study aimed to identify a set of biomarkers through a GWAS for growth curve parameters in crossbred chickens using the Illumnia 60K chicken SNP Beadchip. Growth data were collected from a total of 301 birds from cross of a broiler line and native chickens. Using the Gompertz-Laird model, two growth curve parameters, the instantaneous growth rate per day (L) and the coefficient of relative growth or maturing index (k), were estimated. The L and k were used to estimate five derived parameters, namely asymptotic (mature) body weight, body weight at inflection point, age at the inflection point, average growth rate and maximum growth rate. These parameters were considered as phenotypic values in the GWAS based on generalized linear models. The results of the GWAS indicated 21 significant markers, which were located near or within 46 genes. A number of these genes, such as GH, RET, GRB14, FTSJ3 and CCK, are important for growth and meat quality in chickens, and some of them are growth related in other species such as sheep and cattle (GPI, XIRP2, GALNTL6, BMS1, THSD4, TRHDE, SHISA9, ACSL6 and DYNC1LI2). The other genes are associated with developmental biological pathways. These genes are particuarly related to body weight, average daily gain and growth QTL. The results of this study can shed light on the genetic mechanism of biological functions of growth factors in broiler chickens, which is useful for developing management practices and accelerating genetic progress in breeding programs.

A vector-enzymatic DNA fragment amplification-expression technology for construction of artificial, concatemeric DNA, RNA and proteins for novel biomaterials, biomedical and industrial applications

A DNA fragment amplification/expression technology for the production of new generation biomaterials for scientific, industrial and biomedical applications is described. The technology enables the formation of artificial Open Reading Frames (ORFs) encoding concatemeric RNAs and proteins. It recruits the Type IIS SapI restriction endonuclease (REase) for an assembling of DNA fragments in an ordered head-to-tail-orientation. The technology employs a vector-enzymatic system, dedicated to the expression of newly formed, concatemeric ORFs from strong promoters. Four vector series were constructed to suit specialised needs. As a proof of concept, a model amplification of a 7-amino acid (aa) epitope from the S protein of HBV virus was performed, resulting in 500 copies of the epitope-coding DNA segment, consecutively linked and expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli). Furthermore, a peptide with potential pro-regenerative properties (derived from an angiopoietin-related growth factor) was designed. Its aa sequence was back-translated, codon usage optimized and synthesized as a continuous ORF 10-mer. The 10-mer was cloned into the amplification vector, enabling the N-terminal fusion and multiplication of the encoded protein with MalE signal sequence. The obtained genes were expressed, and the proteins were purified. Conclusively, we show that the proteins are neither cytotoxic nor immunogenic and they have a very low allergic potential.

Novel Expression Vectors Based on the pIGDM1 Plasmid

Escherichia coli is one of the most widely used hosts for the production of heterologous proteins. Within this host, the choice of cloning vector constitutes a key factor for a satisfactory amplified expression of a target gene. We aimed to develop novel, unpatented expression vectors that enable the stable maintenance and efficient overproduction of proteins in E. coli. A series of expression vectors based on the ColE1-like pIGDM1 plasmid were constructed. The vectors named pIGDMCT7RS, pIGDM4RS and pIGDMKAN carry various antibiotic resistance genes: chloramphenicol, ampicillin or kanamycin, respectively. Two derivatives contain the inducible T7 promoter while the third one bears the constitutive pms promoter from a clinical strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The pIGDM1-derivatives are compatible with other ColE1-like plasmids commonly used in molecular cloning. The pIGDMCT7RS and pIGDM4RS vectors contain genes encoding AGA and AGG tRNAs, which supplement the shortage of these tRNAs, increasing the efficiency of synthesis of heterologous proteins. In conclusion, pIGDMCT7RS, pIGDM4RS and pIGDMKAN vectors, with significantly improved features, including compatibility with vast majority of other plasmids, were designed and constructed. They enable a high-level expression of a desired recombinant gene and therefore constitute a potential, valuable tool for pharmaceutical companies and research laboratories for their own research or for the production of recombinant biopharmaceuticals.

Immobilization of Recombinant Human Catalase on Gold and Silver Nanoparticles

Human catalase cDNA was cloned into a pEX-C-His vector. Purified recombinant catalase was immobilized on nanoparticles. Gold and silver nanoparticles were synthesized in a variety of sizes by chemical reduction; no agglomerates or aggregates were observed in any of the colloids during dynamic light scattering or scanning transmission electron microscopy analysis. After immobilization on gold nanoparticles, recombinant catalase activity was found to be lower than that of the same amount of enzyme in aqueous solution. However, after 10 days of storage at room temperature, the activity of catalase immobilized on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of 13 and 20 nm and coverage of 133% was 68 and 83% greater than catalase in aqueous solution, respectively. During 10 days of experiment, percentage activity of catalase immobilized on those gold nanoparticles was higher in comparison to CAT in aqueous solution. Catalase immobilized on silver nanoparticles did not lose activity as significantly as catalase immobilized on AuNPs. Those results confirm the ability to produce recombinant human enzymes in a bacterial expression system and its potential use while immobilized on silver or gold nanoparticles.