BACKGROUNDTo express in vitro the bovine enterokinase catalytic subunit (EKL) protein, which could be used in the future for the cleavage and purification of fusion proteins.

METHODSBovine enterokinase catalytic subunit cDNA was obtained by RT-PCR from duodenal mucosa of a bovine obtained at wholesale market, and then cloned into a pUCmT cloning vector and sequenced. The desired gene fragment was inserted into a pET39b expression plasmid and the recombinant vector pET39b-EKL was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). Protein expression was induced using IPTG. The recombinant DsbA-EKL was purified with His.Tag affinity chromatography, and it bioactivity was analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with the sequence deposited in GenBank, the sequence of the EKL gene cloned in the present study is correct. It was also confirmed that the nucleotide sequence of expression plasmid pET39b-EKL was correct at the conjunction site between the recombinant DNA 5' terminal multi-cloning site and the recombinant fragment. SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that the target product was about 65 kDa and represented 28% of total cell protein. Purified recombinant protein was obtained by metal chelating chromatography using Ni-IDA resin. After desalting and changing the buffer, the crude kinase was incubated at 21 degrees C overnight and shown to have a high autocatalytic cleavage activity.

CONCLUSIONSThe EKL gene from Chinese bovine has been cloned successfully and expressed. This investigation has layed the foundation for future enterokinase activity research and for further large-scale application of expression products.

Animals ; Catalytic Domain ; genetics ; Cattle ; Cloning, Organism ; DNA, Complementary ; Enteropeptidase ; analysis ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins

The fusion protein of enterokinase light chain, DsbA-rEKL, was expressed mainly in inclusion body in E. coli. The recombinant bacteria was fermented to high density, with high expression of the fusion protein. After being washed with 0.5% Triton X-100 and 4mol/L urea, the inclusion body was dissolved in 6mol/L guanidine and 100mmol/L DTP, derivatized by cystine and refolded by pulse refolding. The strategy of pulse refolding involved the addition of 0.03mg/mL of fusion protein until its final concentration reached 0.3mg/mL. The refolded protein was autocleaved and the active EKL molecule was released after adding 2mmol/L CaCl2. Using the two-step purification processes of IDA-Sepharose chromatography and Q-Sepharose chromatography, the purity of rEKL was found to be above 95%, with a high activity to cleave the recombinant reteplase fusion protein Trx-rPA. The yield of purified rEKL was more than 60mg/L of cultures. As a result, the therapeutic proteins like rPA could be produced on a large-scale in a way such as expressed in the form of fusion proteins.
Enteropeptidase ; chemistry ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Protein Folding ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Animals ; Biocatalysis ; Cattle ; Enteropeptidase ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Models, Molecular ; Oryzias ; metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Substrate Specificity

The study was aimed to investigate the technological parameters of rhIL-11 preparation from fusion protein by using enterokinase. Fusion expression vector pET32a/IL-11 was transferred into E.coli BL21 (DE3) pLysS and its expression was induced by IPTG, the lysis supernatant of the engineering strain was purified by Ni-NTA resin and then the target rhIL-11 was digested by auto-cleavaged DsbA-EKL-(His)(8). The results showed that after affinity chromatography, Trx-IL-11 was obtained with the yield of 11.25mg/g, the purity of 89.2% and the recovery of 91.8%. Finally the target rhIL-11 was digested and purified to over 95%. In conclusion, the preparation method of rhIL-11 from fusion protein by using enterokinase is simple and feasible with good separation, which can meet industrial requirements.
Enteropeptidase ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Interleukin-11 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Protein Engineering ; methods ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification