scholarly journals Isolation and characterization of different C-terminal fragments of dystrophin expressed in Escherichia coli

1992 ◽  
Vol 288 (3) ◽  
pp. 1037-1044 ◽  
Author(s):  
R E Milner ◽  
J Busaan ◽  
M Michalak

Dystrophin, the protein product of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene, is thought to belong to a family of membrane cytoskeletal proteins. Based on its deduced amino-acid sequence, it is postulated to have several distinct structural domains; an N-terminal region; a central, rod-shaped, domain; and a C-terminal domain [Koenig, Monaco & Kunkel (1988) Cell 53, 219-228]. The C-terminal domain is further divided into two regions; the first has some sequence similarity to slime mould alpha-actinin, and is rich in cysteine residues; this is followed by the C-terminal amino-acid sequence that is unique to dystrophin. Dystrophin is very difficult to purify in quantities sufficient for detailed studies of the structure/function relationships within the molecule. Therefore, in this study, we have expressed selected fragments of the C-terminal region of dystrophin, as fusion proteins, in Escherichia coli. Importantly, we describe the first successful purification, from E. coli lysates, of large quantities of fragments of dystrophin in a soluble form. The first fragment, termed CT-1, encodes the C-terminal 201 amino acids of the protein; the second, termed CT-2, spans the cysteine-rich region of the C-terminal domain. These fusion proteins were identified by their mobility in SDS/PAGE, by their interaction with appropriate affinity columns and by their reactivity with anti-dystrophin antibodies. The fragment CT-2, which spans a region containing putative EF-hand-like sequences, was found to bind Ca2+ in 45Ca2+ overlay experiments. In addition, we have discovered that the fragment CT-1, but not fragment CT-2, interacts specifically with the E. coli DnaK gene product [analogue of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70)]. This interaction is disrupted, in vitro, by the addition of ATP. Our results indicate that the two C-terminal fragments of dystrophin have differing biophysical properties, indicating that they may play distinct roles in the function of the protein.

1992 ◽  
Vol 282 (3) ◽  
pp. 747-752 ◽  
Author(s):  
O A M al-Bar ◽  
C D O'Connor ◽  
I G Giles ◽  
M Akhtar

A 1.2 kb BamHI fragment from pDK30 [Robinson, Kenan, Sweeney & Donachie (1986) J. Bacteriol. 167, 809-817] was cloned in pDOC55 [O'Connor & Timmis (1987) J. Bacteriol. 169, 4457-4482] to give two constructs, pDOC89 and pDOC87, in which the Escherichia coli D-alanine:D-alanine ligase (EC 6.3.2.4) gene (ddl) was placed under the control of the lac and lambda PL promoters respectively. Both constructs, when used to transform E. coli M72, gave similar levels of expression of the ddl gene. The expressed enzyme was purified to homogeneity and the amino acid sequence of its N-terminal region was found to be consistent with that predicted from the gene sequence, except that the N-terminal methionine was not present in the mature protein. [1(S)-Aminoethyl][(2RS)2-carboxy-1-octyl]phosphinic acid (I), previously shown to bind tightly to Enterococcus faecalis and Salmonella typhimurium D-alanine:D-alanine ligases following phosphorylation Parsons, Patchett, Bull, Schoen, Taub, Davidson, Combs, Springer, Gadebusch, Weissberger, Valiant, Mellin & Busch (1988) J. Med. Chem. 31, 1772-1778; Duncan & Walsh (1988) Biochemistry 27, 3709-3714], was found to be a classical slow-binding inhibitor of the E. coli ligase.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Young Su Kim ◽  
Hye-Jeong Lee ◽  
Man-ho Han ◽  
Nam-kyung Yoon ◽  
Yeu-chun Kim ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Growth factors (GFs) are signaling proteins that affect cellular processes such as growth, proliferation, and differentiation. GFs are used as cosmeceuticals, exerting anti-wrinkle, anti-aging, and whitening effects, and also as pharmaceuticals to treat wounds, growth failure, and oral mucositis. However, in mammalian and bacterial cells, low productivity and expression in inclusion bodies, respectively, of GFs does not satisfy the consumer demand. Here, we aimed to develop a bacterial expression system that produces high yields of soluble GFs that can be purified in their native forms. Results We present Fh8, an 8-kDa peptide from Fasciola hepatica with an N-terminal hexa-histidine (6HFh8), as a fusion partner for enhanced human GF production in recombinant Escherichia coli. The fusion partner harboring a tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease cleavage site was fused to the N-terminus of 10 human GFs: acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (aFGF and bFGF, respectively), epidermal growth factor (EGF), human growth hormone (hGH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165), keratinocyte growth factor 1 (KGF-1), placental growth factor (PGF), stem cell factor (SCF), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1). The fusion proteins were expressed in E. coli under the control of T7 promoter at three temperatures (25 °C, 30 °C, and 37 °C). All individual fusion proteins, except for SCF and TIMP-1, were successfully overexpressed in cytoplasmic soluble form at more than one temperature. Further, the original aFGF, IGF-1, EGF, and VEGF165 proteins were cleaved from the fusion partner by TEV protease. Five-liter fed-batch fermentation approaches for the 6HFh8-aFGF (lacking disulfide bonds) and 6HFh8-VEGF165 (a cysteine-rich protein) were devised to obtain the target protein at concentrations of 9.7 g/l and 3.4 g/l, respectively. The two GFs were successfully highly purified (> 99% purity). Furthermore, they exerted similar cell proliferative effects as those of their commercial equivalents. Conclusions We demonstrated that 6HFh8-GF fusion proteins could be overexpressed on a g/l scale in the cytoplasm of E. coli, with the GFs subsequently highly purified and maintaining their biological activity. Hence, the small protein 6HFh8 can be used for efficient mass-production of various GFs.


2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (2) ◽  
pp. 570-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Gropp ◽  
Yael Strausz ◽  
Miriam Gross ◽  
Gad Glaser

ABSTRACT The E. coli RelA protein is a ribosome-dependent (p)ppGpp synthetase that is activated in response to amino acid starvation. RelA can be dissected both functionally and physically into two domains: The N-terminal domain (NTD) (amino acids [aa] 1 to 455) contains the catalytic domain of RelA, and the C-terminal domain (CTD) (aa 455 to 744) is involved in regulating RelA activity. We used mutational analysis to localize sites important for RelA activity and control in these two domains. We inserted two separate mutations into the NTD, which resulted in mutated RelA proteins that were impaired in their ability to synthesize (p)ppGpp. When we caused the CTD inrelA + cells to be overexpressed, (p)ppGpp accumulation during amino acid starvation was negatively affected. Mutational analysis showed that Cys-612, Asp-637, and Cys-638, found in a conserved amino acid sequence (aa 612 to 638), are essential for this negative effect of the CTD. When mutations corresponding to these residues were inserted into the full-length relA gene, the mutated RelA proteins were impaired in their regulation. In attempting to clarify the mechanism through which the CTD regulates RelA activity, we found no evidence for competition for ribosomal binding between the normal RelA and the overexpressed CTD. Results from CyaA complementation experiments of the bacterial two-hybrid system fusion plasmids (G. Karimova, J. Pidoux, A. Ullmann, and D. Ladant, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:5752–5756, 1998) indicated that the CTD (aa 564 to 744) is involved in RelA-RelA interactions. Our findings support a model in which RelA activation is regulated by its oligomerization state.


1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (11) ◽  
pp. 2906-2913 ◽  
Author(s):  
James M. Battisti ◽  
Laura S. Smitherman ◽  
D. Scott Samuels ◽  
Michael F. Minnick

ABSTRACT This study describes the first isolation and characterization of spontaneous mutants conferring natural resistance to an antibiotic for any Bartonella species. The Bartonella bacilliformis gyrB gene, which encodes the B subunit of DNA gyrase, was cloned and sequenced. The gyrB open reading frame (ORF) is 2,079 bp and encodes a deduced amino acid sequence of 692 residues, corresponding to a predicted protein of ∼77.5 kDa. Sequence alignment indicates that B. bacilliformis GyrB is most similar to the GyrB protein from Bacillus subtilis (40.1% amino acid sequence identity) and that it contains the longest N-terminal tail (52 residues) of any GyrB characterized to date. The cloned B. bacilliformis gyrB was expressed in an Escherichia coli S30 cell extract and was able to functionally complement a temperature-sensitive E. coli Cour gyrB mutant (strain N4177). We isolated and characterized spontaneous mutants of B. bacilliformis resistant to coumermycin A1, an antibiotic that targets GyrB. Sequence analysis of gyrB from 12 Cour mutants ofB. bacilliformis identified single nucleotide transitions at three separate loci in the ORF. The predicted amino acid substitutions resulting from these transitions are Gly to Ser at position 124 (Gly124→Ser), Arg184→Gln, and Thr214→Ala or Thr214→Ile, which are analogous to mutated residues found in previously characterized resistant gyrB genes fromBorrelia burgdorferi, E. coli,Staphylococcus aureus, and Haloferax sp. The Cour mutants are three to five times more resistant to coumermycin A1 than the wild-type parental strain.


2004 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 3298-3304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khim Leang ◽  
Goro Takada ◽  
Akihiro Ishimura ◽  
Masashi Okita ◽  
Ken Izumori

ABSTRACT The gene encoding l-rhamnose isomerase (l-RhI) from Pseudomonas stutzeri was cloned into Escherichia coli and sequenced. A sequence analysis of the DNA responsible for the l-RhI gene revealed an open reading frame of 1,290 bp coding for a protein of 430 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 46,946 Da. A comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with sequences in relevant databases indicated that no significant homology has previously been identified. An amino acid sequence alignment, however, suggested that the residues involved in the active site of l-RhI from E. coli are conserved in that from P. stutzeri. The l-RhI gene was then overexpressed in E. coli cells under the control of the T5 promoter. The recombinant clone, E. coli JM109, produced significant levels of l-RhI activity, with a specific activity of 140 U/mg and a volumetric yield of 20,000 U of soluble enzyme per liter of medium. This reflected a 20-fold increase in the volumetric yield compared to the value for the intrinsic yield. The recombinant l-RhI protein was purified to apparent homogeneity on the basis of three-step chromatography. The purified recombinant enzyme showed a single band with an estimated molecular weight of 42,000 in a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel. The overall enzymatic properties of the purified recombinant l-RhI protein were the same as those of the authentic one, as the optimal activity was measured at 60�C within a broad pH range from 5.0 to 11.0, with an optimum at pH 9.0.


1996 ◽  
Vol 314 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanneke L. H. BUSCH ◽  
Jacques L. J. BRETON ◽  
Barry M. BARTLETT ◽  
Richard JAMES ◽  
E. Claude HATCHIKIAN ◽  
...  

Desulfovibrio africanus ferredoxin III is a monomeric protein (molecular mass of 6585 Da) that contains one [3Fe-4S]1+/0 and one [4Fe-4S]2+/1+ cluster when isolated aerobically. The amino acid sequence consists of 61 amino acids, including seven cysteine residues that are all involved in co-ordination to the clusters. In order to isolate larger quantities of D. africanus ferredoxin III, we have overexpressed it in Escherichia coli by constructing a synthetic gene based on the amino acid sequence of the native protein. The recombinant ferredoxin was expressed in E. coli as an apoprotein. We have reconstituted the holoprotein by incubating the apoprotein with excess iron and sulphide in the presence of a reducing agent. The reconstituted recombinant ferredoxin appeared to have a lower stability than that of wild-type D. africanus ferredoxin III. We have shown by low-temperature magnetic circular dichroism and EPR spectroscopy that the recombinant ferredoxin contains a [3Fe-4S]1+/0 and a [4Fe-4S]2+/1+ cluster similar to those found in native D. africanus ferredoxin III. These results indicate that the two clusters have been correctly inserted into the recombinant ferredoxin.


1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 872-884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Kurosky ◽  
Theo Hofmann

The amino acid sequences of 48 peptides obtained from a chymotryptic digest of the mould acid protease, penicillopepsin (EC 3.4.23.7), have been determined. These peptides established the sequences of 26 unique fragments of up to 28 residues in length. The 28-residue fragment was identified as the N-terminal region. The C-terminal region is represented by a 13-residue fragment. The amino acids contained in these fragments account for some 85% of the residues of the enzyme.


2016 ◽  
Vol 198 (23) ◽  
pp. 3186-3199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Pathania ◽  
Arvind Kumar Gupta ◽  
Swati Dubey ◽  
Balasubramanian Gopal ◽  
Abhijit A. Sardesai

ABSTRACTArgO and LysE are members of the LysE family of exporter proteins and ordinarily mediate the export ofl-arginine (Arg) inEscherichia coliandl-lysine (Lys) and Arg inCorynebacterium glutamicum, respectively. Under certain conditions, ArgO also mediates Lys export. To delineate the arrangement of ArgO in the cytoplasmic membrane ofE. coli, we have employed a combination of cysteine accessibilityin situ, alkaline phosphatase fusion reporters, and protein modeling to arrive at a topological model of ArgO. Our studies indicate that ArgO assumes an Nin-Coutconfiguration, potentially forming a five-transmembrane helix bundle flanked by a cytoplasmic N-terminal domain (NTD) comprising roughly its first 38 to 43 amino acyl residues and a short periplasmic C-terminal region (CTR). Mutagenesis studies indicate that the CTR, but not the NTD, is dispensable for ArgO functionin vivoand that a pair of conserved aspartate residues, located near the opposing edges of the cytoplasmic membrane, may play a pivotal role in facilitating transmembrane Arg flux. Additional studies on amino acid substitutions that impair ArgO functionin vivoand their derivatives bearing compensatory amino acid alterations indicate a role for intramolecular interactions in the Arg export mechanism, and some interactions are corroborated by normal-mode analyses. Lastly, our studies suggest that ArgO may exist as a monomerin vivo, thus highlighting the requirement for intramolecular interactions in ArgO, as opposed to interactions across multiple ArgO monomers, in the formation of an Arg-translocating conduit.IMPORTANCEThe orthologous proteins LysE ofC. glutamicumand ArgO ofE. colifunction as exporters of the basic amino acidsl-arginine andl-lysine and the basic amino acidl-arginine, respectively, and LysE can functionally substitute for ArgO when expressed inE. coli. Notwithstanding this functional equivalence, studies reported here show that ArgO possesses a membrane topology that is distinct from that reported for LysE, with substantial variation in the topological arrangement of the proximal one-third portions of the two exporters. Additional genetic andin silicostudies reveal the importance of (i) the cytoplasmic N-terminal domain, (ii) a pair of conserved aspartate residues, and (iii) potential intramolecular interactions in ArgO function and indicate that an Arg-translocating conduit is formed by a monomer of ArgO.


2002 ◽  
Vol 184 (11) ◽  
pp. 2906-2913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keietsu Abe ◽  
Fumito Ohnishi ◽  
Kyoko Yagi ◽  
Tasuku Nakajima ◽  
Takeshi Higuchi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Tetragenococcus halophila D10 catalyzes the decarboxylation of l-aspartate with nearly stoichiometric release of l-alanine and CO2. This trait is encoded on a 25-kb plasmid, pD1. We found in this plasmid a putative asp operon consisting of two genes, which we designated aspD and aspT, encoding an l-aspartate-β-decarboxylase (AspD) and an aspartate-alanine antiporter (AspT), respectively, and determined the nucleotide sequences. The sequence analysis revealed that the genes of the asp operon in pD1 were in the following order: promoter → aspD → aspT. The deduced amino acid sequence of AspD showed similarity to the sequences of two known l-aspartate-β-decarboxylases from Pseudomonas dacunhae and Alcaligenes faecalis. Hydropathy analyses suggested that the aspT gene product encodes a hydrophobic protein with multiple membrane-spanning regions. The operon was subcloned into the Escherichia coli expression vector pTrc99A, and the two genes were cotranscribed in the resulting plasmid, pTrcAsp. Expression of the asp operon in E. coli coincided with appearance of the capacity to catalyze the decarboxylation of aspartate to alanine. Histidine-tagged AspD (AspDHis) was also expressed in E. coli and purified from cell extracts. The purified AspDHis clearly exhibited activity of l-aspartate-β-decarboxylase. Recombinant AspT was solubilized from E. coli membranes and reconstituted in proteoliposomes. The reconstituted AspT catalyzed self-exchange of aspartate and electrogenic heterologous exchange of aspartate with alanine. Thus, the asp operon confers a proton motive metabolic cycle consisting of the electrogenic aspartate-alanine antiporter and the aspartate decarboxylase, which keeps intracellular levels of alanine, the countersubstrate for aspartate, high.


2004 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 1570-1575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dae Heoun Baek ◽  
Jae Jun Song ◽  
Seok-Joon Kwon ◽  
Chung Park ◽  
Chang-Min Jung ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT A new thermostable dipeptidase gene was cloned from the thermophile Brevibacillus borstelensis BCS-1 by genetic complementation of the d-Glu auxotroph Escherichia coli WM335 on a plate containing d-Ala-d-Glu. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the gene included an open reading frame coding for a 307-amino-acid sequence with an M r of 35,000. The deduced amino acid sequence of the dipeptidase exhibited 52% similarity with the dipeptidase from Listeria monocytogenes. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity from recombinant E. coli WM335 harboring the dipeptidase gene from B. borstelensis BCS-1. Investigation of the enantioselectivity (E) to the P1 and P1′ site of Ala-Ala revealed that the ratio of the specificity constant (k cat /Km ) for l-enantioselectivity to the P1 site of Ala-Ala was 23.4 � 2.2 [E = (k cat /Km ) l,d /(k cat /Km ) d,d ], while the d-enantioselectivity to the P1′ site of Ala-Ala was 16.4 � 0.5 [E = (k cat /Km ) l,d /(k cat /Km ) l,l ] at 55�C. The enzyme was stable up to 55�C, and the optimal pH and temperature were 8.5 and 65�C, respectively. The enzyme was able to hydrolyze l-Asp-d-Ala, l-Asp-d-AlaOMe, Z-d-Ala-d-AlaOBzl, and Z-l-Asp-d-AlaOBzl, yet it could not hydrolyze d-Ala-l-Asp, d-Ala-l-Ala, d-AlaNH2, and l-AlaNH2. The enzyme also exhibited β-lactamase activity similar to that of a human renal dipeptidase. The dipeptidase successfully synthesized the precursor of the dipeptide sweetener Z-l-Asp-d-AlaOBzl.


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