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Characterization of baculovirus insecticides expressing tailored Bacillus thuringiensis CryIA(b) crystal proteins.

Full-length, truncated, and mature forms of the CryIA(b) insecticidal crystal protein gene of Bacillus thuringiensis were engineered into the p10 locus of Autographa californica nuclear polyhdrosis virus (AcNPV). A signal sequence of Heliothis virescens juvenile hormone esterase was introduced at the N-terminus of these constructs to induce secretion. All recombinants, except those containing the mature toxin, produced high levels of CryIA(b) ICPs in insect cells. Thirty percent of the intracellular protoxin was N-glycosylated, suggesting that the protoxin was translocated across the ER membrane. Secretion into the medium, however, was limited. The production of the mature toxin was poor as a result of its cytotoxicity to insect cells. In a bioassay against second instar Spodoptera exigua larvae, using a recombinant expressing the Androctonus australis scorpion toxin gene in the same p10 locus as a positive control, the median survival time of AcNPV recombinants expressing the various B. thuringiensis CryIA(b) ICP constructs was not significant different from that of wild-type AcNPV. This suggests that production and/or secretion of B. thuringiensis (pro)toxins by AcNPV p10 recombinant viruses does not increase insecticidal activity since (i) the protoxins produced are inactive and not likely to be activated in vivo; (ii) secretion of the B. thuringiensis protoxins is poor; and (iii) production of the mature toxins results in cytotoxicity.

Animals↗

The mode of action of hirsutellin A on eukaryotic cells.

A 16-kDa protein toxin was purified from Hirsutella thompsonii var thompsonii and named hirsutellin A (HtA). At 0.5 and 5.0 microM concentrations, HtA caused detectable cytopathic effects on Spodoptera frugiperda cells (Sf-9) within 2-4 hr and completely inhibited Sf-9 cell growth at 4 days posttreatment. Electron microscope data showed that the HtA treated Sf-9 cells became hypotrophied and internal organelles and cell membranes were disrupted. At the same concentration, HtA effectively inhibited Brome mosaic virus protein synthesis of both rabbit reticulocyte and wheat germ in vitro translation system. The ribosomal RNA extracted from HtA treated Sf-9 cells produced a smaller RNA (approximately 528 bases) than untreated Sf-9 cells. In summary, HtA is the first mycotoxin of a invertebrate mycopathogen determined to possess ribosomal inhibiting activity and appears to possess some specificity to invertebrate cells.

Animals↗

Abnormal formation of polyhedra resulting from a single mutation in the polyhedrin gene of Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus.

A spontaneous mutant that produces a single abnormally large cubic polyhedron per infected cell was isolated from a polyhedra-positive recombinant Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV). Both wild-type and mutant virus produce two forms of virus particles, budded virions and occluded virions. However, occluded virions are not found within the polyhedra of cells infected with mutant virus, as with the wild-type virus. These large cubic polyhedra do not have the typical lattice-like structure normally seen in wild-type polyhedra and are noninfectious. Spodoptera frugiperda 9 (SF9) cells which were infected with this virus had low infectivity to larvae. No significant alterations were found in the viral genome by restriction enzyme analysis, and no mutations were found in the 25K gene. A single point mutation resulting in an amino acid change of Gly25 to Asp was identified in the polyhedrin gene. A transfer vector containing the entire polyhedrin gene including the point mutation was constructed and used to cotransfect Sf9 cells with a polyhedron-negative recombinant virus. Large cubic polyhedra were once again observed, confirming that the Gly25 to Asp mutation is responsible for the formation of abnormal polyhedra.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Crystallization and X-ray crystallographic analysis of recombinant chicken poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase catalytic domain produced in Sf9 insect cells.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) participates in the immediate response in mammalian cells exposed to DNA-damaging agents. Recombinant baculovirus harboring the cDNA of the chicken PARP catalytic domain (40 kDa) have been used to infect Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells. The recombinant polypeptide (30 mg per 1 x 10(9) cells) was purified to homogeneity by 3-aminobenzamide affinity chromatography. The enzymatic properties of the recombinant domain were similar to those of the native fragment. Crystals of the purified recombinant catalytic domain were grown by vapor diffusion. The crystals belong to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with unit cell dimensions of a = 59.2 A, b = 65.0 A, c = 96.9 A. They are suitable for X-ray analysis and diffract to 2.0 A.

Animals↗

Human pancreatic procolipase expressed in insect cells: purification and characterization.

A cDNA clone encoding human pancreatic procolipase was incorporated into a recombinant baculovirus. Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells infected with the recombinant baculovirus secreted procolipase into the medium, which could be isolated in a single step by immunoaffinity chromatography. The highly purified protein reactivated human pancreatic lipase in a concentration-dependent fashion and was efficiently converted to colipase by limited trypsin digestion. This expression system is suitable for producing amounts of procolipase adequate for biophysical studies.

Animals↗

Effects of co-expressing chaperone BiP on functional antibody production in the baculovirus system.

The assembly pathway of the insect cell Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf-9) was engineered to include expression of the murine chaperone immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein (BiP) using the baculovirus vector. The impact of BiP coexpression on the production and secretion of functional and soluble recombinant immunoglobulin IgG levels was evaluated. Recombinant BiP was found to associate specifically with immunoglobulins in immunoprecipitation studies. Coinfection of insect cells with a BiP-containing baculovirus and baculoviruses coding for two different murine IgG proteins increased intracellular functional antibody activity levels substantially above the levels observed in the absence of BiP. Soluble intracellular immunoglobulin levels were found to increase as well. However, secreted functional antibody levels did not increase significantly. Also, degradation of heavy chain immunoglobulin in insect cells was indicated by the accumulation of lower molecular weight immunoglobulins at 4 days postinfection. Coexpression of light chains reduced the level of these lower molecular weight immunoglobulins while BiP coexpression led to enhanced levels. These findings suggest that coexpressed BiP can increase intracellular soluble and functional antibody yields but that secretion in the baculovirus-insect cell system must be limited at some post-translational step.

Animals↗

Purification and renaturation of Japanese encephalitis virus nonstructural glycoprotein NS1 overproduced by insect cells.

The nonstructural protein NS1 of Japanese encephalitis virus is a major immunogen produced during flavivirus infection. However, the function of this protein has not been identified. To analyze its biochemical properties and evaluate its potential activity in the virus life cycle, the protein was produced in Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells (Sf9), using a recombinant baculovirus, and purified. As described previously by M. Flamand, V. Deubel, and M. Girard (1992, Virology 191, 826-836), a small fraction of the synthesized recombinant protein could mature into a dimer, whereas the major part was retained in intracellular aggregates. This insolubility was used to recover the protein in a purified form using a two-step procedure. Isolated inclusion bodies, in which NS1 constituted over 60% of the protein, were solubilized in 8 M urea. NS1 was further purified by reverse-phase HPLC and recovered at over 90% purity with an overall yield of over 60%. Conditions promoting reoxidation-renaturation of the purified protein were then investigated at a concentration of 100 micrograms/ml at pH 8. The presence of 8 M urea during reoxidation of NS1 with oxidized glutathione was essential prior to renaturation by dialysis to avoid reaggregation, the main side pathway of refolding in vitro. Three major species, all monomeric, were resolved by nonreducing SDS-PAGE. The form showing the lowest apparent molecular weight comigrated with native unreduced NS1 and was recognized by a monoclonal antibody directed against a conformational epitope strictly dependent on the native structure of the protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Purification of recombinant insect transferrin from large volumes of cell culture medium using high capacity Ni(2+)-dipicolylamine gel.

We report the purification of secreted recombinant Manduca sexta transferrin from Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cell culture medium in a single step using high capacity Ni(2+)-dipicolylamine (DPA)-Novarose gel. Although the original sample was highly diluted (approximately 10 micrograms transferrin/ml medium) and the cell culture medium contained 10% surfactant (Pluronic F68) and a lipid emulsion, we were able to recover the recombinant transferrin (1 mg protein/100 ml) under gentle elution conditions with 70% yield at > 90% homogeneity. This work demonstrates the versatility of immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography using a high metal ion capacity gel to purify a recombinant protein and illustrates the potential of this affinity technique for protein separations from large volumes of cell culture media that contain surfactants.

Animals↗

Purification of a soluble hepatitis E open reading frame 2-derived protein with unique antigenic properties.

The second open reading frame (ORF2) of hepatitis E virus (HEV) is predicted to encode a 73-kDa capsid protein (1). When full-length ORF2 was expressed in insect cells (Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9)) using a recombinant baculovirus, two distinct HEV polypeptides were observed: a full-length insoluble 73-kDa protein, and a soluble 56.5-kDa protein. Following purification and sequence analysis, it was determined that the 56.5-kDa protein was derived from endoproteolytic cleavage site that was between the Thr and Ala residues located at amino acids 111 and 112 in the ORF2 sequence with the carboxy terminus corresponding to residue 636 of the ORF2 sequence. Comparative ELISA data using human acute-phase antisera demonstrated that the 56.5-kDa protein served as a highly reactive antigen in detecting anti-HEV antibodies. These data suggest that the 56.5-kDa protein may serve as a particularly useful antigen for both diagnostic and vaccine purposes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Variant cDNA sequences of human ATP:citrate lyase: cloning, expression, and purification from baculovirus-infected insect cells.

ATP:citrate lyase (ACL) is a major generator of cytosolic acetyl-coenzymeA, which is required for both fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis. The human ACL (hACL) cDNA was cloned by RT-PCR, and our results indicate the existence of previously unknown sequence variations in hACL. Expression of the hACL cDNA in Spodoptera frugiperda 9 insect cells resulted in the production of high levels of soluble, active enzyme. The recombinant protein (re-hACL) was purified to homogeneity from the soluble lysate of infected cells and was observed to exist as a tetramer by gel filtration chromatography. Kinetic analyses indicated that the re-hACL and rat ACL have very similar enzymological properties. The facile preparation of milligram quantities of purified, active re-hACL affords the opportunity to characterize the enzyme for structure-based design of hypolipidemic drugs, and to further examine the functional significance of the sequence variations.

ATP Citrate (pro-S)-Lyase↗

Characterization of human lactoferrin produced in the baculovirus expression system.

Lactoferrin, an iron-binding 80-kDa glycoprotein, is a major component of human milk whose structure is now well defined. The binding site of lactoferrin to the membrane receptor of lymphocyte has been located in the region 4-52, but the amino acids directly involved in the interaction have not been identified yet. To gain further insights into the structure-function relationships of the lactoferrin binding site, we first expressed the cDNA encoding human lactoferrin in the lepidoptera Spodoptera frugiperda cells (Sf9) using a recombinant baculovirus. The selected transformant secreted and N-glycosylated protein of 78 kDa which was immunoprecipitated by specific anti-lactoferrin antibodies. To confirm the structure and the function of the recombinant lactoferrin, the protein was purified by ion-exchange chromatography and its physical, biochemical, and biological properties were compared with those of the native protein. In particular, the N-terminal amino acid sequence and the iron-binding stability as a function of pH, of both proteins, were identical. The main difference concerns the glycosylation which leads to glycans of lower molecular masses as detected by the electrophoretic mobility of lactoferrin after N-glycosidase F treatment and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Despite the different glycosylation features, the recombinant lactoferrin retained the binding property to the Jurkat human lymphoblastic T-cell line of the native lactoferrin. On the basis of these analyses, production of protein mutants generated by site-directed mutagenesis is now in process.

Animals↗

Expression, purification, and characterization of an activated cytokine-suppressive anti-inflammatory drug-binding protein 2 (CSBP2) kinase from baculovirus-infected insect cells.

An activated form of the human cytokine-suppressive anti-inflammatory drug-binding protein 2 (CSBP2) kinase was expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (SF9) cells from a baculovirus vector. To maximize expression and to facilitate purification of the recombinant protein, CSBP2 kinase was expressed as a carboxy-terminal fusion protein to glutathione S-transferase (GST). Under optimal conditions, 2-3 mg of GST-CSBP2 could be obtained per liter of infected cell culture. The fusion protein was easily purified from the soluble fraction of the total cell lysate under nondenaturing conditions by using a glutathione-Sepharose 4B affinity resin. As expected, the purified GST-CSBP2 fusion protein was approximately 68 kDa as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis and reacted with antibodies directed toward either the GST or the CSBP amino terminus. To obtain activated CSBP2, SF9 cells were coinfected with two recombinant baculovirus vectors: one that directed the synthesis of the GST-CSBP2 fusion protein and a second vector that directed the synthesis of a constitutively active form of the CSBP activating kinase, MKK3. Coexpression of GST-CSBP2 kinase with the MKK3 activator increased GST-CSBP2 activity 8- to 10-fold based on the ability of GST-CSBP2 to phosphorylate the substrate, myelin basic protein (MBP), and the ATF2 transcription factor, in vitro. Moreover, activated GST-CSBP2 was capable of activating a bacterially derived mitogen-activated protein kinase-activating protein kinase 2 in vitro. The activity of insect-derived GST-CSBP2 was also inhibited by the CSBP inhibitor, SB202190. We anticipate that the preparation and purification techniques described in this study will facilitate further biochemical characterization of this kinase.

Animals↗

Baculovirus-mediated large-scale expression and purification of a polyhistidine-tagged rubella virus capsid protein.

The capsid protein of rubella virus was produced in baculovirus-infected Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells, with a polyhistidine affinity tag at the carboxy terminus. The RV capsid recombinant protein was produced in a 10-liter bioreactor and purified, under nondenaturing conditions, using immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography. Immunoblot analyses indicated that the purified recombinant protein was intact and migrated with the expected molecular weight. The final yield was 5 mg of purified protein per liter of cell culture. Surface plasmon resonance was used to investigate the antigenic potential of the histidine tagged capsid protein in an antigen-antibody interaction study. A specific interaction between the two proteins was shown. Our results suggest that this strategy should be useful in interaction studies of other virus-specific proteins and antibodies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression and purification of the human thrombin receptor.

The human thrombin receptor has been overexpressed in Sf9 (Spodoptera frugiperda) insect cells using a baculovirus vector. Cell surface expression of the receptor was confirmed by immunocytochemistry with polyclonal antibodies raised against the extracellular domain of the receptor. The expressed receptor was functional; both thrombin and the thrombin receptor agonist peptide produced increases in intracellular calcium in transfected cells. The concentration of thrombin causing the half-maximal increase (EC50) in intracellular calcium was 3.9 nM, whereas the EC50 for the agonist peptide was 2.7 microM. However, the observed maximum increase in intracellular calcium concentration with the agonist peptide (547 nM) was twofold greater than that observed with thrombin (258 nM). The recombinant receptor was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody raised against the receptor extracellular domain. The purified preparation contained two species with apparent molecular masses of 48 and 90 kDa, both of which were recognized by mono- and polyclonal antibodies against the thrombin receptor. The yield of the purified receptor was 0.78 mg/liter of insect cells suspension culture (10(6) cells/ml). The purified thrombin receptor will be useful in future structural and functional studies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression, purification, and characterization of histidine-tagged rat and human flavoenzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase.

Mitochondrially bound dihydroorotate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, EC 1.3.99.11) catalyzes the fourth sequential step in the de novo synthesis of uridine monophosphate. Based on the recent functional expression of the complete rat dihydroorotate dehydrogenase by means of the baculovirus expression vector system in Trichoplusia ni cells, a procedure is described that allows the purification of baculovirus expressed enzyme protein fused to a carboxy-terminal tag of eight histidines. Extracts from mitochondria of Spodoptera frugiperda cells infected with the recombinant virus using Triton X-100 were loaded onto Ni2+-nitrilotriacetic acid agarose and histidine-tagged rat protein was selectively eluted with imidazole-containing buffer. In view of our previously published work, the quality of the electrophoretic homogenous rat enzyme was markedly improved; specific activity was 130-150 micromol dihydroorotate/min per milligram; and the stoichiometry of flavin content was 0.8-1.1 mol/mol protein. Efforts to generate mammalian dihydroorotate dehydrogenases with low production costs from bacteria resulted in successful overexpression of the carboxy-terminal-modified rat and human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase in XL-1 Blue cells. By employing the metal chelate affinity chromatography under native conditions, the histidine-tagged human enzyme was purified with a specific activity of 150 micromol/min/mg and the rat enzyme with 83 micromol/min/mg, respectively, at pH 8.0-8.1 optimum. Kinetic constants of the recombinant histidine-tagged rat enzyme from bacteria (dihydroorotate, Km = 14.6 micromol electron acceptor decylubiquinone, Km = 9.5 micromol) were close to those reported for the enzyme from insect cells, with or without the affinity tag. HPLC analyses identified flavin mononucleotide as cofactor of the rat enzyme; UV-vis and fluorometric analyses verified a flavin/protein ratio of 0.8-1.1 mol/mol. By spectral analyses of the functional flavin with the native human enzyme, the interaction of the pharmacological inhibitors Leflunomide and Brequinar with their target could be clarified as interference with the transfer of electrons from the flavin to the quinone. The combination of the bacterial expression system and metal chelate affinity chomatography offers an improved means to purify large quantities of mammalian membrane-bound dihydroorotate dehydrogenases which, by several criteria, possesses the same functional activities as non-histidine-tagged recombinant enzymes.

Animals↗

Molecular characterization, enzymatic analysis, and purification of murine proprotein convertase-1/3 (PC1/PC3) secreted from recombinant baculovirus-infected insect cells.

A cDNA coding for the murine proprotein convertase-1 (mPC1 also known as mPC3 or mSPC3) was inserted into the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus. Following infection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells, the recombinant N-glycosylated protein is secreted into the cell culture medium from which it can be purified to homogeneity as a fully enzymatically active enzyme. Two major secreted molecular forms of mPC1 with apparent molecular weights of 85 and 71 kDa, respectively, and a minor one of 75 kDa are immunodetected in the medium. Automated NH2-terminal sequencing reveals that all three forms result from processing at the predicted zymogen activation site whereas both the 75- and the 71-kDa forms are truncated at their COOH-terminus. Labeling by an active-site titrant demonstrates that the 85-kDa form is optimally labeled at near neutral pH whereas the COOH-truncated forms are optimally labeled at acidic pH. Additionally it is shown that the 85-kDa mPC1 is transformed into the COOH-truncated forms following in vitro incubation at acidic pH levels and in presence of calcium. Concomitantly, the transformation from 85 to 71 kDa is accompanied by a 10- to 40-fold increase in enzymatic activity upon assaying at pH 6.0. The 71-kDa form can be recovered after purification at a level of 1 to 1.5 mg per liter of cell culture medium and is enzymatically stable only in the pH range from 5.0 to 6.5. Cells treated with tunicamycin show a drastically reduced secretion of the convertase in the medium but are not affected by swainsonine and deoxymannojirimycin. Finally, the 85-kDa secreted mPC1 is shown to be sulfated.

1-Deoxynojirimycin↗

Differences in the expression and localization of human melanotransferrin in lepidopteran and dipteran insect cell lines.

The ability of several lepidopteran and dipteran insect cell lines to express human melanotransferrin (p97), a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored, iron-binding sialoglycoprotein, was assessed. Spodoptera frugiperda-derived (Sf9) cell lines, transformed with the p97 gene under control of a baculovirus immediate-early promoter, were able to constitutively express the protein and correctly attach it to the outer cell membrane via a GPI anchor as demonstrated by PI-PLC treatment. In contrast, stable constitutive expression could not be demonstrated with cell lines derived from either Drosophila melanogaster (Kc1 or SL2) or Lymantria dispar (Ld652Y) despite the observation that p97 could be detected in transient expression assays. This may indicate that the long-term expression and accumulation of p97 is inhibitory to Drosophila cells, possibly due to improper localization of the protein and resultant competition for cellular iron. In stably transformed Sf9 cells, p97 was expressed on the cell at a maximal level of 0.18 microg/10(6) cells and was secreted at a maximal rate of 9.03 ng/10(6) cells/h. This level was comparable to the amount expressed with the baculovirus system (0.37 microg/10(6) cells and 31.2 ng/10(6) cells/h) and transformed CHO cells (0.88 microg/10(6) cells and 7.8 ng/10(6) cells/h). Deletion of the GPI cleavage/attachment site resulted in an eightfold increase in the secretion rate of p97, when compared to the intact construct suggesting that the rate-limiting step involves processing of the GPI anchor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked Manduca sexta aminopeptidase N in insect cells.

Aminopeptidase N (APN; EC 3.4.11.2) is an exopeptidase that is attached to cell membranes by a hydrophobic amino-terminal stalk in vertebrates or a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor in insects. In this study, we report the cloning, expression, and characterization of an aminopeptidase N from Manduca sexta midgut. The full-length aminopeptidase N cDNA (APN1a) encodes a 995-amino-acid protein. The predicted amino acid sequence differs by 8 amino acids from M. sexta APN1. These different amino acids do not modify any putative glycosylation or glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor sites. The full-length cDNA was cloned into an expression plasmid, pHSP-HR5, and transiently expressed in an insect cell line derived from Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf21 cells). Immunoblot analysis with anti-APN antiserum showed that APN1a expressed in Sf21 cells is the same size (120 kDa) as APN found in midgut brush border membranes. After treatment with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PIPLC), anti-cross-reacting determinant antibody specific for PIPLC cleavage products recognized the expressed 120-kDa APN1a, but not endogenous Sf21 proteins, indicating that APN1a has an intact glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. These results are evidence that Sf21 cells synthesize few, if any, endogenous GPI-linked proteins. Immunofluorescence staining showed that the expressed APN1a was located on the surface of Sf21 cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗