Small-Scale Expression Testing

All protein targets are first produced as MBP-fusion protein in a single vector (pVP16) in the methionine auxotroph E. coli strain, B834-pRARE2 (metE-) (Studier, 2005 and Frederick et al., 2007), using seleno-methionine medium (5SM), and then purified using a generic immobilized metal-chelating chromatography (IMAC) scheme. In small-scale screening, the production of MBP-target protein fusions are analyzed by SDS-PAGE to evaluate their levels of expression, solubility, and TEV protease cleavage. The cloned eukaryotic genes are expressed under control of either a T5 or T7 phage based promoter that is lactose inducible. The expressed proteins are fused to an N-terminal (His)n-tagged (n=6 or 8) maltose-binding protein (MBP), which enhances solubility and expression. The construct includes a TEV protease cleavage site (located between the MBP and target protein). The modular architecture of the expression plasmid allows for flexibility for future design modifications. For example, the MBP segment can now be readily replaced with many other solubility enhancers such as glutathione S-transferase (GST), thioredoxin or NusA. The E. coli host strain, B834-pRARE2 (supplemented with seven rare aminoacyl tRNAs) is used for both small scale expression screening and for large-scale protein production (2-L cell growths).

A simple approach that allows cost-effective automated purification of recombinant proteins in levels sufficient for functional characterization or structural studies is described. Studies with four human stem cell proteins, an engineered version of green fluorescent protein, and other proteins are included. The method combines an expression vector (pVP62K) that provides in vivo cleavage of an initial fusion protein, a factorial designed auto-induction medium that improves the performance of small-scale expression, and rapid, automated metal affinity purification of His8-tagged proteins. For initial small-scale expression screening, single colony transformants were grown overnight in 0.4 mL of auto-induction medium, expressed proteins were purified using the Promega Maxwell 16, and purification results were analyzed by Caliper LC90 capillary electrophoresis. The yield of purified [U-¹⁵N]- His8-Tcl-1 was 7.5 ug per mL of culture medium, of purified [U-¹⁵N]-His8-GFP was 68 ug per mL, and of purified selenomethione- labeled AIA-GFP (His8 removed by treatment with TEV protease) was 345 ug per mL. The yield information obtained from a successful automated purification from 0.4 mL was used to inform the decision to scale-up for a second meso-scale (10-50 mL) cell growth and automated purification. ¹H-¹⁵N NMR HSQC spectra of His8-Tcl-1 and of His8-GFP prepared from 50 mL cultures showed excellent chemical shift dispersion, consistent with well-folded states in solution suitable for structure determination. Moreover, AIA-GFP obtained by proteolytic removal of the His8 tag was subjected crystallization screening, and yielded crystals under several conditions. Single crystals were subsequently produced and optimized by the hanging drop method. The structure was solved by molecular replacement at a resolution of 1.7 A. This approach provides an efficient way to carry out several key target screening steps that are essential for successful operation of proteomics pipelines with eukaryotic proteins: examination of total expression, determination of proteolysis of fusion tags, quantification of the yield of purified protein, and suitability for structure determination.

Blommel, P.G., Martin, P.A., Wrobel, R.L., Steffen, E., Fox, B.G. (2006) High efficiency single step production of expression plasmids from cDNA clones using the Flexi Vector cloning system. Protein Expr Purif 47(2):562-70, 562?570. |16377204|

Blommel, P.G., Becker, K.J., Duvnjak, P., Fox, B.G. (2007) Enhanced bacterial protein expression during auto-induction obtained by alteration of lac repressor dosage and medium composition. Biotechnol Prog 23(3):585-98. |17506520|

Frederick, R.O., Bergeman, L., Blommel, P.G., Bailey, L.J., Song, J., Meske, L., Bingman, C.A., Riters, M., Dillon, N., Kunert, J., Yoon, J., Lim, A.-Y., Cassidy, M., Bunge, J., Aceti, D.J., Primm, J.P., Markley, J.L., Phillips, G.N., Jr., Fox, B.G. (2007) Small-scale, semi-automated purification of eukaryotic proteins for structure determination. JSFG 8(4):153-66. |17985212|

Several improved methodologies are being researched by CESG to improve protein production efficiency and increase the output of protein structures by the pipeline. Some of these methodologies aim to improve the ability of the small-scale screen to accurately predict events further down pipeline into the protein purification section. To achieve these goals, CESG has developed new technologies for expressing and purifying sufficient target protein directly from the small-scale screens for initial biophysical analysis, and meso-scale protein production for NMR and X-ray analysis.

We have combined two basic improvements at several steps of our screening pipeline whose two relevant underlying technologies: (1) factorial evolution of auto-induction medium to improve growth and expression; and (2) expression vector engineering to better match performance in small- and large-scale cell growths. Factorial evolution of the auto-induction medium revealed new combinations of carbon sources that were better matched to CESG pipeline activities. Furthermore, by altering the promoter for Lac repressor (provided by LacIQ-type plasmids, such as the pQE80 (Qiagen) derivatives used in the CESG), we obtained close correlation between small- and large-scale expression trials, while also increasing total protein expression.