Effect of codon optimization on expression levels of human cystatin C in Pichia pastoris

Co-expressing GroEL-GroES, Ssa1-Sis1 and Bip-PDI chaperones for enhanced intracellular production and partial-wall breaking improved stability of porcine growth hormone

Porcine growth hormone (pGH) is a class of peptide hormones secreted from the pituitary gland, which can significantly improve growth and feed utilization of pigs. However, it is unstable and volatile in vitro. It needs to be encapsulated in liposomes when feeding livestock, whose high cost greatly limits its application in pig industry. Therefore we attempted to express pGH as intracellular soluble protein in Pichia pastoris and feed these yeasts with partial wall-breaking for swine, which could release directly pGH in intestine tract in case of being degraded in intestinal tract with low cost. In order to improve the intracellular soluble expression of pGH protein in Pichia pastoris and stability in vitro, we optimized the pGH gene, and screened molecular chaperones from E. coli and Pichia pastoris respectively for co-expressing with pGH. In addition, we had also explored conditions of mechanical crushing and fermentation. The results showed that the expression of intracellular soluble pGH protein was significantly increased after gene optimized and co-expressed with Ssa1-Sis1 chaperone from Pichia pastoris. Meanwhile, the optimal conditions of partial wall-breaking and fermentation of Pichia pastoris were confirmed, the data showed that the intracellular expression of the optimized pGH protein co-expressed with Ssa1-Sis1 could reach 340 mg/L with optimal conditions of partial wall-breaking and fermentation. Animal experiments verified that the optimized pGH protein co-expression with Ssa1-Sis1 had the best promoting effects on the growth of piglets. Our study demonstrated that Ssa1-Sis1 could enhance the intracellular soluble expression of pGH protein in Pichia pastoris and that partial wall-breaking of yeast could prevent pGH from degradation in vitro, release targetedly in the intestine and play its biological function effectively. Our study could provide a new idea to cut the cost effectively, establishing a theoretical basis for the clinic application of unstable substances in vitro.

Production of Universal Group O Red Blood Cells by Alpha-N-Acetylgalactosaminidase Enzyme Expressed in Pichia pastoris

Enzymatic removal of blood groups antigens A and B is an efficient method for production of universal red blood cells. In this research, an α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (NAGA) enzyme was expressed in Pichia pastoris for digestion of the A blood antigen. DNA sequence of the gene NAGA, originally expressed in Elizabethkingia meningosepticum (NAGA-EM), was ordered for optimization and synthesis. It was then expressed in P. pastoris (KM71H and GS115 strains). Expression of the recombinant NAGA was evaluated by dot blot, SDS-PAGE, and Western blotting. The activity of the enzyme was measured using a synthetic substrate in addition to the conversion of group A red blood cells to the O cells. Expression of NAGA-EM with an apparent molecular mass of 55 kDa was verified by dot blot, SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. The maximum enzyme activity in the supernatant of KM71H was higher than that in the GS115 (250 vs. 200 U/ml). Treated group A RBCs did not react with the anti-A antiserum or with the sera from individuals with blood groups B and O. The results of this study indicated that NAGA-EM is an efficient enzyme for production of universal O blood cells.

Expression, purification, and characterization of human cystatin C monomers and oligomers

Human cystatin C (cysC) is a soluble basic protein belonging to the cysteine protease inhibitor family. CysC is a potent inhibitor of cathepsins--proteolytic enzymes that degrade intracellular and endocytosed proteins, remodel extracellular matrix, and trigger apoptosis. Inhibition is via tight reversible binding involving the N-terminus as well as two β-hairpin loops of cysC. As a significant component of cerebrospinal fluid, cysC has numerous other functions, including support of neural stem cell growth and differentiation. Several studies suggest that cysC may bind to the Alzheimer-related protein beta-amyloid (Aβ), and inhibit its aggregation and toxicity. Because of an increasing recognition of its important biological roles, there is considerable interest in methods to produce full-length recombinant human cysC. Several researchers have reported success, but with processes that require multiple purification steps. Here we report successful production of human cysC using an intein-based expression system and a simple one-column purification scheme. The recombinant protein so obtained was natively folded and active as an enzyme inhibitor. Unexpectedly, even mild concentration by ultrafiltration caused significant oligomerization. The oligomers are noncovalent and retain the native secondary structure and inhibitory activity of the monomer. The oligomers, but not the monomers, were highly effective at inhibiting aggregation of Aβ. These results demonstrate the critical importance of careful physicochemical characterization of recombinant cysC protein prior to evaluation of its biological functions.

Optimized human factor IX expression cassettes for hepatic-directed gene therapy of hemophilia B

Gene therapy provides a potential cure for hemophilia B, and significant progress has been achieved in liver-directed gene transfer mediated by adeno-associated viral vectors. Recent clinical trials involving the use of a self-complementary adeno-associated virus serotype 8-human codon-optimized factor IX (AAV8-hFIXco) vector demonstrated encouraging efficacy with hFIX expression stabilized at 1% to 6% of normal level in patients, but safety concerns related to high vector doses are still present. Thus, further improvement of AAV vectors and hFIX expression cassette may positively contribute to the ultimate success of hemophilia B gene therapy. In this study, to obtain a higher expression level of hFIX that potentiates the coagulant capacity of recipients, human FIX expression vector was optimized by upgrading the codon adaption index and adjusting the GC content, inserting a Kozak sequence (GCCACC), and introducing a gain-of-function mutation, R338L (FIX Padua). The efficiency of the published and the presently constructed cassettes was compared through in vivo screening. In addition, the regulatory elements that control the FIX gene expression in these cassettes were screened for liver-specific effectiveness. Among all the constructed cassettes, scAAV-Pre-hFIXco-SIH-R338L, which was the construct under the control of the prothrombin enhancer and prealbumin promoter, resulted in the highest level of coagulant activity, and the expression levels of two constructed cassettes (scAAV-Chi-hFIXco-SIH-R338L and scAAV-Pre-hFIXco-SIH-R338L) were also higher than that of the published cassette (scAAV-LP1-hFIXco-SJ). In summary, our strategies led to a substantial increase in hFIX expression at the protein level or a remarkably elevated coagulant activity. Thus, these reconstructs of hFIX with AAV vector may potentially contribute to the creation of an efficacious gene therapy of hemophilia B.