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PubMed1996

Protein prenylation: molecular mechanisms and functional consequences.

Prenylation is a class of lipid modification involving covalent addition of either farnesyl (15-carbon) or geranylgeranyl (20-carbon) isoprenoids to conserved cysteine residues at or near the C-terminus of proteins. Known prenylated proteins include fungal mating factors, nuclear lamins, Ras and Ras-related GTP-binding proteins (G proteins), the subunits of trimeric G proteins, protein kinases, and at least one viral protein. Prenylation promotes membrane interactions of most of these proteins, which is not surprising given the hydrophobicity of the lipids involved. In addition, however, prenylation appears to play a major role in several protein-protein interactions involving these species. The emphasis in this review is on the enzymology of prenyl protein processing and the functional significance of prenylation in cellular events. Several other recent reviews provide more detailed coverage of aspects of prenylation that receive limited attention here owing to length restrictions (1-4).

GTP-Binding Proteins↗

PubMed2004

Production of recombinant porcine lactoferrin exhibiting antibacterial activity in methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris.

Lactoferrin is a metal-binding glycoprotein exhibiting multifunctional immunoregulation of antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-endotoxin and antiviral activities. Uptake of porcine lactoferrin (PLF) has been shown to enhance resistance to diarrhea and anemia in neonatal piglets. In this study, the methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris, was used to express a recombinant PLF (rPLF) gene from swine mammary gland. A synthetic secretion cassette was constructed using the inducible promoter of the alcohol oxidase-1 gene (AOX1) and the yeast alpha-mating factor signal peptide. After electroporation and Zeocin selection, several clones expressed high levels of rPLF protein which constitutes more than 30% of the total protein. A time-course study showed that rPLF mRNA transcripts are stably expressed during 120 h of culture induction. rPLF was exported into the culture supernatant at approximately 87 mg/l and a large portion of rPLF was accumulated in the cell cytoplasm at approximately 760 mg/l after 72 h of methanol induction. Recombinant PLF protein was purified via a heparin column using a fast protein liquid chromatography system. The glycosylation of P. pastoris-derived rPLF was analyzed and similar patterns to milk PLF were observed. Pepsin hydrolysate of rPLF displayed high bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 under scanning electron microscopy observation and minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration tests. Our results suggested that the methylotrophic yeast-inducible system is suitable for large-scale production of active antibacterial rPLF glycoprotein.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Expression of human thyroid peroxidase in the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Hansenula polymorpha.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha have been used to express both full-length and a large hydrophilic domain of human thyroid peroxidase (TPO). Expression of TPO in S. cerevisiae, using the natural signal sequence or the yeast alpha-mating factor (MF alpha) signal sequence, resulted in undetectable or very low levels of recombinant TPO production. However, TPO was expressed when the natural TPO leader sequence was replaced by the yeast STE2 signal sequence. This recombinant TPO reacted with both rabbit anti-human TPO polyclonal and mouse anti-human TPO monoclonal antibodies on Western blots. In the case of H. polymorpha, TPO expression was achieved when the natural TPO leader sequence was replaced by the MF alpha leader and the construct placed under the control of the methanol-regulated promoter from the methanol oxidase gene. The recombinant TPO produced in H. polymorpha reacted with both TPO polyclonal and TPO monoclonal antibodies. No TPO was produced when the signal sequence of SUC2 (invertase) or the TPO natural signal sequence was used to direct expression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Production of biologically active tethered ovine FSHbetaalpha by the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris.

The pituitary-derived glycoprotein hormone FSH plays a central role in controlling vertebrate gonadal function. In female mammals the maturation of ovarian follicles is critically dependent upon stimulation by FSH. Moreover, injection of exogenous FSH is used extensively to stimulate increased numbers of follicles to ovulate. Structurally FSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein composed of two non-covalently associated polypeptide subunits. The tertiary structures of both the alpha- and beta-subunits are constrained by intramolecular disulphide bonds and are post-translationally modified with two N-linked carbohydrate moieties, the structure of which appears to modulate in vivo biological activity. Here we report the expression of ovine FSH (oFSH) as a biologically active single-chain polypeptide using the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. Sequences encoding the mature oFSH alpha- and beta-proteins were fused to form a gene encoding a fusion protein with the C-terminus of the beta-chain joined to the N-terminus of the alpha-chain, with the chains separated by a two amino acid linker sequence. This fusion gene was itself fused to two alternative Pichia leader sequences (mating factor alpha and acid phosphatase) and transformed into the Pichia strains GS115 and SMD1168. The recombinant fusion protein (oFSHbetaalpha) was expressed at approximately 0.1 microg/ml in 'shake-flask' cultures. The Pichia-expressed tethered protein was biologically active in an in vitro bioassay, had a molecular mass of 28 kDa, as determined by SDS-PAGE, and bound the bovine FSH receptor with a binding profile similar to that of native oFSH.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Functional expression of rat VPAC1 receptor in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was examined as host for heterologous expression of the G protein-coupled VPAC1 receptor. Rat VPAC1 receptor cDNA and two chimeric constructs encoding the yeast mating factor pre-pro alpha-leader peptide fused in-frame to rat VPAC1 receptor were expressed in yeast cells under control of a galactose inducible promoter. The rat VPAC1 receptor was fused to the HSV tag epitope to ensure proper immunological detection of the receptor. Crucial conditions for high-level expression of active rat VPAC1 receptor included growth in amino acid supplemented minimal medium, fusion to the yeast alpha-leader peptide and a temperature shift from 30 degrees C to 15 degrees C before promoter induction. Western blotting showed that the expressed receptor was highly glycosylated and a band of 47 kDa was obtained upon endoglycosidase H treatment. Binding with radioiodinated vasoactive intestinal polypeptide revealed a KD of 2.5 nM and an IC50 of 15 nM when displacing with unlabeled vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. VPAC1 receptor density quantified by Western blotting was 510 pmol/mg membrane protein of which only 66 pmol/mg were able to bind vasoactive intestinal polypeptide.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Post-translational modifications of heterologously expressed cholecystokinin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The vertebrate neuroendocrine peptide cholecystokinin (CCK) is subjected to numerous post-translational modifications upon maturation to bioactive CCK. However, the current knowledge of the proteolytic processing of proCCK, as reviewed here, is not complete. We have chosen Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model to study these endoproteolytic processing events. Expression of proCCK as a fusion protein to the prepro leader peptide of alpha-mating factor directed the protein through the secretory pathway and resulted in nanomolar concentrations of secreted glycine-extended CCK. The CCK peptides showed many correlations to the known endoproteolytic processing products of proCCK in endocrine cells. Especially the processing to the abundant form, CCK-22, was investigated and it is suggested that a novel enzyme is responsible for its production. Thus, yeast may be used to study the proteolysis of proCCK with the aim to identify mammalian homologues involved in maturation of CCK.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

An inhibitor of collagen-stimulated platelet activation from the salivary glands of the Haementeria officinalis leech. II. Cloning of the cDNA and expression.

Salivary glands of the leech Haementeria officinalis contain a protein, leech antiplatelet protein (LAPP), that specifically blocks collagen-mediated platelet aggregation (Connolly, T. M., Jacobs, J. W., and Condra, C. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 6893-6898). Degenerate oligonucleotides whose sequences were derived from two short peptides from V8 digests of the native LAPP were used as primers to generate a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product which contains the cDNA region coding for the sequence between these two peptides. Using this PCR product as a hybridization probe, phage containing cDNA clones were isolated containing the entire deduced amino acid sequence for LAPP. Computer analysis of the amino acid sequence predicts a peptidase cleavage site between a 21-residue pre-peptide and a mature protein of 126 amino acids. A DNA insert to express the predicted mature LAPP protein was generated by PCR amplification using phage-derived cDNA clones as a substrate. This insert encoded a fusion protein with the leader sequence of the yeast alpha mating factor and the mature LAPP cDNA. These PCR products were cloned into the yeast expression vector pKH4 alpha 2. A KEX 2 Lys-Arg endopeptidase cleavage site was placed NH2-terminal to the predicted mature protein. This vector transfected into the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae directs expression of a secreted mature protein at levels up to 200 mg of LAPP/liter of culture medium. The recombinant protein was comparable to native LAPP in its electrophoretic mobility, its reactivity with anti-LAPP antisera, and its biological activity including inhibition of collagen-stimulated platelet aggregation and the adhesion of platelets to collagen. Availability of significant quantities of recombinant LAPP opens the way to further biochemical structure/function studies and to studies on the effects of an inhibitor of collagen-stimulated platelet aggregation in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1990

Aprotinin and aprotinin analogues expressed in yeast.

Synthetic genes encoding aprotinin and aprotinin analogues were constructed and fused in frame to the S. cerevisiae mating factor alpha 1 signal-leader (1-85) sequence. Expression in yeast resulted in secretion into the culture medium of a moderate yield of correctly processed aprotinin (1-58) together with two N-terminally extended forms. Des-Arg1, Pro2-aprotinin was expressed in a higher yield. In this case only the correct N-terminal amino acid sequence was found. Substitution of Ser42 for Arg42 in the potential internal KEX2 processing site improved the secretion yield. The aprotinins are characterized by an inhibition profile similar to that of native aprotinin. Des-Arg1, Pro2-[Arg15, Ser42] aprotinin has a strongly increased plasma kallikrein inhibition profile.

Aprotinin↗

PubMed1991

[Protein farnesyl and geranylgeranyl transferases].

Posttranslational prenylation of proteins synthesized as soluble precursors enhances their hydrophobicity and enables them to bind biological membranes. These modifications consist in the attachment of a C15 farnesyl or a C20 geranylgeranyl moiety to the cysteine residue(s) of proteins bearing CAAX, CC or CXC C-terminal sequences (where C = cysteine, A = aliphatic residue and X = any amino-acid), such as proteins of the ras superfamily, gamma subunits of heterotrimetric G proteins, lamin B as well as yeast mating factor a. A farnesyl transferase (FTase) and two distinct geranylgeranyl transferases (GGTases I and II) have been recently identified. FTase and GGTase I modify proteins containing a C-terminal CAAX motif; such a sequence is necessary and sufficient for recognition by the enzymes. The nature of the fourth residue determines the nature of the modification: when X is a serine, a methionine or a phenylalanine, the protein is farnesylated, whereas the presence of a leucine residue results in the attachment of a geranylgeranyl group. Both these enzymes are alpha beta heterodimers; their purification, molecular cloning of their coding sequences as well as mutational studies in yeast have shown that they share a common alpha subunit, and that their beta subunits exhibit a significant level of sequence similarity. GGTase II modifies ras-related proteins exhibiting CC and CXC C-terminal sequences; the enzyme as well as its recognition motif are yet largely uncharacterized.

Dimethylallyltranstransferase↗

PubMed1991

Carboxyl methylation of platelet rap1 proteins is stimulated by guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate.

Carboxyl methylation of platelet ras-related proteins, known as rap proteins, was investigated in this study. Platelet membrane proteins of Mr 23,000 incorporated radioactivity in the presence of S-[methyl-3H]adenosylmethionine and platelet cytosol. About 97% of the radioactivity present in the Mr 23,000 proteins was liberated as volatile methanol under basic (1 M sodium hydroxide) conditions. Cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, inhibited incorporation of S-[methyl-3H]adenosylmethionine by 25%. These results suggest that at least 75% of the radioactivity present in the Mr 23,000 proteins is due to carboxyl methylation and not due to the incorporation of S-[methyl-3H]adenosylmethionine into proteins or due to the incorporation of base-stable methyl groups into side chains of arginine, histidine, or lysine residues. Protein methylation did not occur if membranes or cytosol alone was incubated with S-[methyl-3H]adenosylmethionine. Guanosine 5'(3-O-thio)triphosphate increased methylation of the Mr 23,000 proteins in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Acetyl-farnesylcysteine, a synthetic substrate for carboxyl methyltransferases, completely blocked methylation of the Mr 23,000 membrane proteins. On the basis of one- and two-dimensional Western blots using rap-specific antisera, the Mr 23,000 methylated proteins were identified as rap1 proteins. The existence of the carboxyl-terminal CAAX motif in rap1 proteins, similar to the CAAX motif present in p21ras as well as in the yeast mating factors, leads us to suggest that methylation of rap1 proteins possibly occurs at the alpha-carboxyl-terminal cysteine.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1991

[Asynchronous development of the genital tract in the snail, Helix aspersa, during growth and reproduction].

During the growth of laboratory-raised Helix aspersa, the development of the albumen gland and spermoviduct was studied in relation to age, weight and different stages of reproduction such as mating and egg-laying. The results showed that the population can be divided into 2 categories because of different growth rates and asynchronous development of the genital tract. The fast-growing snails are larger and reach sexual maturity (female type maturity) in a shorter period than slow growing snails (male type maturity). During growth, the maturation of the genital tract was not directly proportional to the weight of the animal. Within each class of similar weight and age of population, 2 groups were identified; in one group, the genital tract was significantly less developed than in the other. This asynchrony of genital tract development could still be found between mating partners of the same weight, the genital tract could be 3 times smaller in one than in the other partner. However, this difference disappeared between mating and egg-laying. These observations suggest: that asynchronous development of the genital tract could be a strategy for the developing population of Helix aspersa; and that (a) mating factor(s) is (are) involved in the regulation of the growth and function of the genital tract.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Isoprenylation of C-terminal cysteine in a G-protein gamma subunit.

The predicted amino acid sequences for the Gi alpha 1 and G gamma 6 subunits of brain heterotrimeric G-proteins both contain C-terminal Cys-A-A-X elements (A is an aliphatic residue and X is any amino acid). This domain represents the site of Cys thioether modification by isoprenoids in p21ras, nuclear lamins, and fungal mating factors. We now show that G gamma 6, translated in reticulocyte lysate, is efficiently labeled with the isoprenoid precursor, [3H]mevalonate. Alteration of the sequence of G gamma 6 so that a Gly was substituted for Cys in the C-terminal Cys-A-A-X element rendered the protein incapable of undergoing isoprenoid modification. In contrast to G gamma 6, the Gi alpha 1 subunit did not appear to undergo isoprenylation when translated in reticulocyte lysate. Transient expression of the protein in COS cells, which were able to isoprenylate the p21 product of transfected H-ras, also failed to demonstrate isoprenylation of Gi alpha 1. The modification of the gamma subunit by a hydrophobic moiety may have important implications for the assembly of the brain G-protein beta gamma complexes into the cell membrane.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1990

A role for isoprenoid lipids in the localization and function of an oncoprotein.

Intermediates of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway are covalently attached to a number of eukaryotic proteins, including the Ras oncoprotein. Ras protein is post-translationally processed at its carboxyl terminus in three steps, resulting in a COOH-terminal cysteine residue to which a polyisoprenoid moiety, probably farnesyl, is attached in a thioether linkage. Polyisoprenylation of Ras protein is required for its membrane association and for the oncogenicity of mutant forms of the protein. Inhibition of polyisoprenylation may offer a route by which Ras-mediated tumors can be pharmacologically suppressed. Other proteins that are polyisoprenylated include nuclear lamin B, fungal mating factors, and subunits of trimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins. A consensus sequence for polyisoprenylation (Cys-aliphatic-aliphatic-X) has been identified at the COOH-terminus of modified proteins. Recent evidence indicates that proteins can be modified by several different polyisoprenoids.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1990

Structure and expression of mouse furin, a yeast Kex2-related protease. Lack of processing of coexpressed prorenin in GH4C1 cells.

We have cloned and sequenced a mouse cDNA encoding the 793-residue amino acid sequence of furin, which is a protein homologous to the yeast Kex2 protease. The entire sequence is 94% identical to that of human furin, and it contains the 289-residue sequence of the subtilisin-like catalytic domain. Within this region, 99, 64, and 53% of the amino acids are identical to those of human furin, human PC2 (the other mammalian Kex2-like protein), and yeast Kex2, respectively. It has been proposed that furin is a mammalian prohormone processing enzyme which cleaves precursors at paired basic amino acids, based on the fact that the Kex2 protease is responsible for processing of alpha-mating factor and killer toxin precursors at dibasic sites. However, Northern blot analysis has revealed that a furin mRNA transcript is present in all tested mouse tissues and culture cell lines, including those known not to process prohormones. Moreover, when furin and a prohormone, prorenin, have been coexpressed in mammalian cells by DNA transfection, no processing has been observed. These observations fail to show a role for furin, a Kex2-like mammalian protease, in prohormone processing.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Purification and characterization of a paired basic residue-specific yeast aspartic protease encoded by the YAP3 gene. Similarity to the mammalian pro-opiomelanocortin-converting enzyme.

Yeast cells express an alternate enzyme encoded by the YAP3 gene which can process pro-alpha-mating factor when this pheromone is overexpressed in KEX2-deficient mutants. The YAP3 gene product is an aspartic protease (YAP3) that cleaves at paired basic residues (Egel-Mittani, M., Flygenring, H.P., and Hansen, M. T. (1990) Yeast 6, 127-137). In this study, the YAP3 gene was overexpressed in the BJ 3501 strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. YAP3 was purified to apparent homogeneity using concanavalin A and pepstatin A affinity chromatography. The enzyme was characterized as an M(r) 68,000 glycoprotein with a pH optimum of 4.0-4.5. It was inhibited by pepstatin A and activated by 5 mM Ca2+. YAP3 cleaved at paired basic residues of mouse pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) to yield adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and beta-lipotropin (LPH); human beta-LPH to yield beta-endorphin-(1-31), beta-endorphin-(1-29), beta-endorphin-(1-28), gamma-LPH, and beta-melanocyte-stimulating hormone; and bovine N-POMC1-77 to yield gamma 3-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It also cleaved the tetrabasic residues of ACTH1-39 to yield primarily ACTH1-15 and Lys-Arg-corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide. The physical properties, pH optimum, and specificity of YAP3 indicate that it is a homologue of the mammalian POMC-converting enzyme (EC 3.4.23.17), a paired basic residue-specific aspartic protease from bovine pituitary intermediate lobe secretory granules (Loh, Y. P., Parish, D.C., and Tuteja, R. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 7194-7205).

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

PubMed1995

Cell wall synthesis specific cytocidal effect of Hansenula mrakii toxin-1 on Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

HM-1 toxin produced by Hansenula mrakii kills sensitive Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that the budding cells and the cells that responded to mating factor were sensitive to HM-1 toxin. These findings indicate that the target sites of HM-1 toxin are developing buds and conjugating tubes. The in vitro activity of beta-1,3-glucan synthase solubilized and partially purified from S. cerevisiae membranes was inhibited by HM-1 toxin at a concentration (around 50 nM, 0.5 micrograms/ml) that coincided well with its minimum inhibitory concentration for the growth of yeast cells. These data indicate that the HM-1 toxin perturbs the synthesis of yeast cell walls by inhibiting the glucan synthesis occurring at a budding site or a conjugating tube, which results in cell lysis.

Cell Cycle↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Expression, purification, and characterization of a two domain carcinoembryonic antigen minigene (N-A3) in pichia pastoris. The essential role of the N-domain.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a 180 kDa glycoprotein expressed on the surface of normal and malignant human colon. The structure of CEA has seven predicted Ig-like domains (N-A1-B1-A2-B2-A3-B3) that are encoded by separate exons and contain independent epitopes that are recognized by monoclonal antibodies. The N-domain mediates homotypic cell adhesion as shown by deletion expression analysis, and may also interact with the A3 domain. Although we have been unsuccessful in expressing these domains in high yields of active protein in either bacterial or mammalian expression systems, we now report high yield expression in Pichia pastoris of a mini-gene (N-A3) comprising the N and A3 domains of CEA, and containing epitopes for the monoclonal antibodies T84.1 and T84.66. N-A3 was constructed by splice overlap PCR from the CEA gene and fused to the yeast alpha-mating factor leader sequence and an N-terminal His6 tag. The secreted protein gave high level expression (20 micrograms/mL) and was purified in two steps using Ni(NTA) affinity chromatography followed by reversed phase HPLC. The purified protein (yield 6 mg from 600 mL of supernatant) had a single N-terminal sequence, the expected amino acid composition, and retained full reactivity to both T84.1 and T84.66 compared to native CEA. BIAcore analysis gave a Kaff of 4.4 x 10(10) M-1 for the binding of N-A3 to T84.1 and 2.2 x 10(10) M-1 for the binding of N-A3 to T84.66. The molecular weight of N-A3 was 37 kDa before and 24 kDa after enzymatic deglycosylation as determined by SDS gel electrophoresis. The average N-glycosyl unit was calculated at 1850 Da (for 7 N-linked sites) suggesting a GN2Man9 oligosaccharide structure. N-A3 migrated as a dimer at 80 kDa and a monomer at 40 kDa on gel filtration analysis performed at pH 7.5, and 4.0, respectively. CEA exhibited the same conversion of dimers to monomers when analyzed by gel filtration at neutral and acid pH. The availability of this highly active CEA mini-gene should enable further structure-function studies including epitope analysis and investigation of monomer-dimer interactions.

Antibody Affinity↗

PubMed1999

Secretory expression and characterization of insulin in Pichia pastoris.

The yeasts Pichia pastoris and Saccharomyces cerevisiae have similar overall features regarding the secretory expression of insulin. The S. cerevisiae mating factor alpha (alpha-factor) prepro-leader facilitated the secretion of an insulin precursor, but not proinsulin expressed in P. pastoris. Synthetic prepro-leaders developed for the secretory expression of the insulin precursor in S. cerevisiae also facilitated the secretion of the insulin precursor expressed in P. pastoris. In contrast with S. cerevisiae, only insulin precursor and no unprocessed hyperglycosylated alpha-factor pro-leader/insulin precursor fusion protein was secreted from P. pastoris. A spacer peptide in the fusion protein increased the fermentation yield of the insulin precursor in P. pastoris. A synthetic prepro-leader, but not an alpha-factor prepro-leader lacking N-glycosylation sites, facilitated the secretion of the insulin precursor in P. pastoris. P. pastoris has a capacity for secretory expression of the insulin precursor that is equal to or better than that of S. cerevisiae. Peptide mapping and MS indicated a structure of the insulin precursor expressed in P. pastoris identical with that of human insulin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗