scholarly journals Fusion-protein-assisted protein crystallization

2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. 861-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bostjan Kobe ◽  
Thomas Ve ◽  
Simon J. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Protein Crystallization ◽  
Fusion Partner ◽  
Conformational Heterogeneity ◽  
Interacting Proteins ◽  
Protein Assemblies ◽  
Contact Formation ◽  
Crystal Contact

Fusion proteins can be used directly in protein crystallization to assist crystallization in at least two different ways. In one approach, the `heterologous fusion-protein approach', the fusion partner can provide additional surface area to promote crystal contact formation. In another approach, the `fusion of interacting proteins approach', protein assemblies can be stabilized by covalently linking the interacting partners. The linker connecting the proteins plays different roles in the two applications: in the first approach a rigid linker is required to reduce conformational heterogeneity; in the second, conversely, a flexible linker is required that allows the native interaction between the fused proteins. The two approaches can also be combined. The recent applications of fusion-protein technology in protein crystallization from the work of our own and other laboratories are briefly reviewed.

Rabaptin-5 is a novel fusion partner to platelet-derived growth factor β receptor in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia

Blood ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 98 (8) ◽  
pp. 2518-2525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magnus K. Magnusson ◽  
Kristin E. Meade ◽  
Kevin E. Brown ◽  
Diane C. Arthur ◽  
Lisa A. Krueger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Growth Regulation ◽  
Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia ◽  
Platelet Derived Growth Factor ◽  
Fusion Partner ◽  
Β Receptor ◽  
Myelomonocytic Leukemia

Abstract Chromosomal translocations involving the platelet-derived growth factor β receptor (PDGFβR) gene have been reported in some patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). The resultant fusion proteins have constitutive PDGFβR tyrosine kinase activity, but the partner genes previously reported(tel, Huntingtin interacting protein 1[HIP-1], H4/D10S170) have poorly understood roles in the oncogenic activity of the fusion proteins. A novel PDGFβR fusion protein has been characterized in a patient with CMML and an acquired t(5;17)(q33;p13). Southern blot analysis on patient leukemia cells demonstrated involvement of the PDGFβR gene. Using 5′ rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends–polymerase chain reaction (RACE-PCR) on patient RNA, rabaptin-5 was identified as a novel partner fused in-frame to thePDGFβR gene. The new fusion protein includes more than 85% of the native Rabaptin-5 fused to the transmembrane and intracellular tyrosine kinase domains of the PDGFβR. Transduction with a retroviral vector expressing rabaptin-5/PDGFβRtransformed the hematopoietic cell line Ba/F3 to growth factor independence and caused a fatal myeloproliferative disease in mice. Rabaptin-5 is a well-studied protein shown to be an essential and rate-limiting component of early endosomal fusion through interaction with the Ras family GTPases Rab5 and Rab4. The fusion protein includes 3 of 4 coiled-coil domains (involved in homodimerization of native rabaptin-5), 2 caspase-3 cleavage sites, and a binding site for the tumor suppressor gene tuberin (tuberous sclerosis complex-2). Early endosomal transport is critical in regulation of various growth factor receptors, through ligand-induced clathrin-mediated endocytosis, and thus this new fusion protein links together 2 important pathways of growth regulation.

scholarly journals The Structural Characterization of Tumor Fusion Genes and Proteins

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dandan Wang ◽  
Daixi Li ◽  
Guangrong Qin ◽  
Wen Zhang ◽  
Jian Ouyang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Chromosomal Translocation ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Fusion Partner ◽  
Structural Level ◽  
Fusion Genes ◽  
And Function ◽  
Disordered Regions

Chromosomal translocation, which generates fusion proteins in blood tumor or solid tumor, is considered as one of the major causes leading to cancer. Recent studies suggested that the disordered fragments in a fusion protein might contribute to its carcinogenicity. Here, we investigated the sequence feature near the breakpoints in the fusion partner genes, the structure features of breakpoints in fusion proteins, and the posttranslational modification preference in the fusion proteins. Results show that the breakpoints in the fusion partner genes have both sequence preference and structural preference. At the sequence level, nucleotide combination AG is preferred before the breakpoint and GG is preferred at the breakpoint. At the structural level, the breakpoints in the fusion proteins prefer to be located in the disordered regions. Further analysis suggests the phosphorylation sites at serine, threonine, and the methylation sites at arginine are enriched in disordered regions of the fusion proteins. Using EML4-ALK as an example, we further explained how the fusion protein leads to the protein disorder and contributes to its carcinogenicity. The sequence and structural features of the fusion proteins may help the scientific community to predict novel breakpoints in fusion genes and better understand the structure and function of fusion proteins.

scholarly journals Production of a novel heterodimeric two-chain insulin-Fc fusion protein

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Faust ◽  
Christian Ochs ◽  
Marcus Korn ◽  
Ulrich Werner ◽  
Jennifer Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Peptide Hormone ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Fusion Partner ◽  
Insulin Analogs ◽  
Fc Fusion Protein ◽  
A Chain

Abstract Insulin is a peptide hormone produced by the pancreas. The physiological role of insulin is the regulation of glucose metabolism. Under certain pathological conditions the insulin levels can be reduced leading to the metabolic disorder diabetes mellitus (DM). For type 1 DM and, dependent on the disease progression for type 2 DM, insulin substitution becomes indispensable. To relieve insulin substitution therapy for patients, novel insulin analogs with pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles aiming for long-lasting or fast-acting insulins have been developed. The next step in the evolution of novel insulins should be insulin analogs with a time action profile beyond 1–2 days, preferable up to 1 week. Nowadays, insulin is produced in a recombinant manner. This approach facilitates the design and production of further insulin-analogs or insulin-fusion proteins. The usage of the Fc-domain from immunoglobulin as a fusion partner for therapeutic proteins and peptides is widely used to extend their plasma half-life. Insulin consists of two chains, the A- and B-chain, which are connected by two disulfide-bridges. To produce a novel kind of Fc-fusion protein we have fused the A-chain as well as the B-chain to Fc-fragments containing either ‘knob’ or ‘hole’ mutations. The ‘knob-into-hole’ technique is frequently used to force heterodimerization of the Fc-domain. Using this approach, we were able to produce different variants of two-chain-insulin-Fc-protein (tcI-Fc-protein) variants. The tcI-Fc-fusion variants retained activity as shown in in vitro assays. Finally, prolonged blood glucose lowering activity was demonstrated in normoglycemic rats. Overall, we describe here the production of novel insulin-Fc-fusion proteins with prolonged times of action.

Staphylokinase as a Plasminogen Activator Component in Recombinant Fusion Proteins

1999 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 506-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Szarka ◽  
E. G. Sihota ◽  
H. R. Habibi ◽  
S.-L. Wong
Keyword(s):  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Thrombin Inhibitor ◽  
Fusion Partner ◽  
Resistant Variant ◽  
Recombinant Fusion Proteins ◽  
Culture Supernatants

ABSTRACT The plasminogen activator staphylokinase (SAK) is a promising thrombolytic agent for treatment of myocardial infarction. It can specifically stimulate the thrombolysis of both erythrocyte-rich and platelet-rich clots. However, SAK lacks fibrin-binding and thrombin inhibitor activities, two functions which would supplement and potentially improve its thrombolytic potency. Creating a recombinant fusion protein is one approach for combining protein domains with complementary functions. To evaluate SAK for use in a translational fusion protein, both N- and C-terminal fusions to SAK were constructed by using hirudin as a fusion partner. Recombinant fusion proteins were secreted from Bacillus subtilis and purified from culture supernatants. The rate of plasminogen activation by SAK was not altered by the presence of an additional N- or C-terminal protein sequence. However, cleavage at N-terminal lysines within SAK rendered the N-terminal fusion unstable in the presence of plasmin. The results of site-directed mutagenesis of lysine 10 and lysine 11 in SAK suggested that a plasmin-resistant variant cannot be created without interfering with the plasmin processing necessary for activation of SAK. Although putative plasmin cleavage sites are located at the C-terminal end of SAK at lysine 135 and lysine 136, these sites were resistant to plasmin cleavage in vitro. Therefore, C-terminal fusions represent stable configurations for developing improved thrombolytic agents based on SAK as the plasminogen activator component.

scholarly journals RGD4C peptide mediates anti-p21Ras scFv entry into tumor cells and produces an inhibitory effect on the human colon cancer cell line SW480

BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen-Chen Huang ◽  
Fang-Rui Liu ◽  
Qiang Feng ◽  
Xin-Yan Pan ◽  
Shu-Ling Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antitumor Activity ◽  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Tumor Cell ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Endosomal Escape ◽  
Antitumor Effects ◽  
Sw480 Cells

Abstract Background We prepared an anti-p21Ras scFv which could specifically bind with mutant and wild-type p21Ras. However, it cannot penetrate the cell membrane, which prevents it from binding to p21Ras in the cytoplasm. Here, the RGD4C peptide was used to mediate the scFv penetration into tumor cells and produce antitumor effects. Methods RGD4C-EGFP and RGD4C-p21Ras-scFv recombinant expression plasmids were constructed to express fusion proteins in E. coli, then the fusion proteins were purified with HisPur Ni-NTA. RGD4C-EGFP was used as reporter to test the factors affecting RGD4C penetration into tumor cell. The immunoreactivity of RGD4C-p21Ras-scFv toward p21Ras was identified by ELISA and western blotting. The ability of RGD4C-p21Ras-scFv to penetrate SW480 cells and colocalization with Ras protein was detected by immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence. The antitumor activity of the RGD4C-p21Ras-scFv was assessed with the MTT, TUNEL, colony formation and cell migration assays. Chloroquine (CQ) was used an endosomal escape enhancing agent to enhance endosomal escape of RGD4C-scFv. Results RGD4C-p21Ras-scFv fusion protein were successfully expressed and purified. We found that the RGD4C fusion protein could penetrate into tumor cells, but the tumor cell entry of was time and concentration dependent. Endocytosis inhibitors and a low temperature inhibited RGD4C fusion protein endocytosis into cells. The change of the cell membrane potential did not affect penetrability. RGD4C-p21Ras-scFv could penetrate SW480 cells, effectively inhibit the growth, proliferation and migration of SW480 cells and promote this cells apoptosis. In addition, chloroquine (CQ) could increase endosomal escape and improve antitumor activity of RGD4C-scFv in SW480 cells. Conclusion The RGD4C peptide can mediate anti-p21Ras scFv entry into SW480 cells and produce an inhibitory effect, which indicates that RGD4C-p21Ras-scFv may be a potential therapeutic antibody for the treatment of ras-driven cancers.

scholarly journals Presequence and mature part of preproteins strongly influence the dependence of mitochondrial protein import on heat shock protein 70 in the matrix.

1993 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Voos ◽  
B D Gambill ◽  
B Guiard ◽  
N Pfanner ◽  
E A Craig
Keyword(s):  
Heat Shock ◽  
Heat Shock Protein ◽  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Dual Role ◽  
Intermembrane Space ◽  
Heme Binding ◽  
Membrane Translocation ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
The Matrix

To test the hypothesis that 70-kD mitochondrial heat shock protein (mt-hsp70) has a dual role in membrane translocation of preproteins we screened preproteins in an attempt to find examples which required either only the unfoldase or only the translocase function of mt-hsp70. We found that a series of fusion proteins containing amino-terminal portions of the intermembrane space protein cytochrome b2 (cyt. b2) fused to dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) were differentially imported into mitochondria containing mutant hsp70s. A fusion protein between the amino-terminal 167 residues of the precursor of cyt. b2 and DHFR was efficiently transported into mitochondria independently of both hsp70 functions. When the length of the cyt. b2 portion was increased and included the heme binding domain, the fusion protein became dependent on the unfoldase function of mt-hsp70, presumably caused by a conformational restriction of the heme-bound preprotein. In the absence of heme the noncovalent heme binding domain in the longer fusion proteins no longer conferred a dependence on the unfoldase function. When the cyt. b2 portion of the fusion protein was less than 167 residues, its import was still independent of mt-hsp70 function; however, deletion of the intermembrane space sorting signal resulted in preproteins that ended up in the matrix of wild-type mitochondria and whose translocation was strictly dependent on the translocase function of mt-hsp70. These findings provide strong evidence for a dual role of mt-hsp70 in membrane translocation and indicate that preproteins with an intermembrane space sorting signal can be correctly imported even in mutants with severely impaired hsp70 function.

scholarly journals Effective production of human growth factors in Escherichia coli by fusing with small protein 6HFh8

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Young Su Kim ◽  
Hye-Jeong Lee ◽  
Man-ho Han ◽  
Nam-kyung Yoon ◽  
Yeu-chun Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Growth Factors ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Human Growth ◽  
Soluble Form ◽  
Fusion Partner ◽  
Small Protein ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Tev Protease

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.

scholarly journals Sequence Analysis and Expression of the Attachment and Fusion Proteins of Canine Distemper Virus Wild-Type Strain A75/17

1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 2263-2269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Cherpillod ◽  
Karin Beck ◽  
Andreas Zurbriggen ◽  
Riccardo Wittek
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Translation Initiation ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Canine Distemper Virus ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Canine Distemper ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Attachment Protein

ABSTRACT The biological properties of wild-type A75/17 and cell culture-adapted Onderstepoort canine distemper virus differ markedly. To learn more about the molecular basis for these differences, we have isolated and sequenced the protein-coding regions of the attachment and fusion proteins of wild-type canine distemper virus strain A75/17. In the attachment protein, a total of 57 amino acid differences were observed between the Onderstepoort strain and strain A75/17, and these were distributed evenly over the entire protein. Interestingly, the attachment protein of strain A75/17 contained an extension of three amino acids at the C terminus. Expression studies showed that the attachment protein of strain A75/17 had a higher apparent molecular mass than the attachment protein of the Onderstepoort strain, in both the presence and absence of tunicamycin. In the fusion protein, 60 amino acid differences were observed between the two strains, of which 44 were clustered in the much smaller F2 portion of the molecule. Significantly, the AUG that has been proposed as a translation initiation codon in the Onderstepoort strain is an AUA codon in strain A75/17. Detailed mutation analyses showed that both the first and second AUGs of strain A75/17 are the major translation initiation sites of the fusion protein. Similar analyses demonstrated that, also in the Onderstepoort strain, the first two AUGs are the translation initiation codons which contribute most to the generation of precursor molecules yielding the mature form of the fusion protein.

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