SIU

BIOTECHNOLOGY - MICR 421


Ch. 7. Recombinant Protein Production in Eukaryotic Cells

I. Yeast Expression Systems

II. Insect Cell Expression Systems

II. Mammalian Cell Expression Vectors


Problems With Expression of Eukaryotic Genes In Bacteria

1. Protein instability (proteolysis)

2. Presence of pyrogenic (fever causing) contaminants from bacterial cell membranes in the final product

Lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) in outer membrane of Gram negative bacteria (Ex. E. coli) may contaminate gene product and cause adverse immune response

3. Authentic eukaryotic protein not produced:

Bacteria may not perform posttranslational modifications of eukaryotic proteins

-Disulfide bond formation for proper protein folding

-Proteolytic processing of precursor proteins to produce a functional
protein or for secretion from the cell

-Reactions that specifically add chemical groups to certain amino acids

Acetylation: acetate

Acylation: fatty acids

Myristylation: addition of 14 carbon chain to N-terminal amino acid

Palmitylation: addition of 16 carbon chain to sulfhydryl group of cysteine

Carboxylation: -COOH

Glycosylation, O- and N-linked carbohydrates Figs. 7.1 & 7.2

Hydroxylation: -OH

Phosphorylation: -PO4

Sulfation: -SO4

 

Functions

-Protein structure and stability

-Enzyme activity

-Anchoring to membranes

-Secretion from cell


Generalized Eukaryotic Expression Vector

See Fig. 7.3

1. Cloning site with:

-Eukaryotic promoter

-Transcription termination sequence

-Sequence signaling polyadenylation of mRNA

2/3. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic selectable markers and ori

 

Designed to be a shuttle vector for moving genes from cells of one species to cells of another species

Ex. from E. coli to Saccharomyces cerevisiae

1. Use vector to clone cDNA of gene with E. coli host

2. Move recombinant vector to eukaryotic host for expression

3. Host cell expresses the gene and performs posttranslational modifications of gene product

 


Yeast Expression Systems

Saccharomyces cerevisae

Well known genetics and physiology

Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by Food and Drug Administration

Used in baking and brewing

 

Pichia pastoris

AOX1 (alcohol oxidase) allows growth on methanol

AOX1 gene has very strong promoter induced by methanol

 

YEps Yeast episomal plasmids

High copy number

May be lost during large-scale industrial production

 

YIps Yeast integrating vectors

Prevents loss of cloned gene(s)

Have low gene dosage and low expression levels

 

YACS. Yeast artificial chromosomes

Stably maintained as chromosome in host

Capable of containing large amounts of cloned DNA

Not yet used for expression of commercial proteins


Saccharomyces cerevisiae Expression System

See Fig. 7.7

1. Yeast origin of replication

2. Eukaryotic selectable marker

3. Yeast promoter and termination-polyadenylation sequence

4. Prokaryotic origin of replication

5. Prokaryotic selectable marker

 

Yeast strain is a LEU- mutant (defective for leucine biosynthesis) --requires leucine in growth medium

Vector is selected for (maintained) in mutant cells grown on a medium lacking leucine


Pichia pastoris Integrating Expression System

YIp vector

See Fig. 7.8 and 7.9

Cloned DNA is flanked by th 5' and 3' ends of the AOX1 gene on the integrating vector

The cloned DNA is integrated into the chromosomal AOX1 gene of the host cell by homologous recombination

Eukaryotic selectable marker = HIS4

How would you select for yeast cells containing this vector?

 


Cultured Insect Cell Expression Systems

For expression of eukaryotic gene products that are not correctly postranslationally modified by yeast

Vectors derived from baculoviruses which infect insect cells Fig. 7.10

(Latin baculum, rod or stick)


Autographa californica (Alfalfa Looper) multiple nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV)

Infects several insect species and cultured insect cells

 

Polyhedrin: a viral protein, gene has a strong promoter

Expression is induced during late stages of infection of insect cells

 

Polyhedron: composed of polyhedrin with imbedded AcMNPV

Released after lysis of insect cell

Protects the virus from environmental conditions until eaten by another caterpillar


Use of an Insect Cell Expression System

See Fig. 7.11 and 7.12

Two vectors are involved

1. Transfer vector: E. coli plasmid vector for transfer of cloned gene to the baculovirus

Contains virus DNA for transfer via recombination

 

2. Baculovirus expression vector: for expression by cultured insect cells

 

Both vectors are introduced into cultured insect cells by cotransfection

Homologous recombination between the transfer vector and the baculovirus expression vector transfers the cloned gene to the expression vector

Virions form recombinant Baculovirus DNA are isolated form plaques of insect cells grown on plates.

Recombinant virons containing the target gene are then used to infect cultured insect cells for expression of the target gene


Generalized Mammalian Cell Expression Systems

See Fig. 7.16

1. Eukaryotic ori from animal virus; E.g. SV40 (Simian virus 40)

2. Eukaryotic promoter and transcription termination-polyadenylation sequences (from animal viruses or mammalian genes)

3. Eukaryotic selectable marker (Neomycin resistance, dihydrofolate reductase or glutamine synthetase gene)

4. Multiple cloning site

5. Prokaryotic ori

6. Prokaryotic selectable marker (bla, ampicillin resistance gene)

7. Translation control elements

5' and 3' untranslated regions that increase efficiency of translation and for mRNA stability

Kozak sequence for initiation of translation

Stop codon

 

E..g. Chinese Hamster ovary cells, baby hamster kidney cells


Expression of Multimeric Proteins in Mammalian Cells

Ex. hemoglobin: a2b2 heterotetramer

1. Two gene (double cassette) expression vector.

Each gene is placed under the control of its on promoter and polyadenylation/transcription termination sequence

Two transcripts are produced and translated separately

Expression of both genes may not be balanced, ratio of protein chains may not be be correct for formation of functional multemeric protein

2. Bicistronic expression vector.

Both genes can be place under the control of the same promoter and polyadenylation/transcription termination sequence

The genes are separated by an internal ribosome entry site (IRES)

One transcript is produced

Translation initiated from the 5'-end of the message produces the first protein chain and translation initiated from the internal IRES produces the second chain

IRES

Sequence of ~450 nucleotides

Allows G-cap independent translation of mRNA

Present on some picornaviruses (positive strand RNA viruses)

Ex. poliovirus, foot-in-mouth disease virus



Comparison of Eukaryotic Hosts

 Attribute  Yeast  Cultured insect or animal
Growth rate Fast Slow
Growth medium Simple, cheap Complex, expensive
Cell density High Low
Expression level High Low
Hardware, facilities (Ex. culture apparatus) Simple Complex
Technical expertise Low High
 Overall expense Low Very high


Introducing DNA into Eukaryotic Cells

Transformation of yeast cells (uptake of naked DNA)

1. Protoplasts: yeast cell wall removed by digestion with enzymes

2. Chemical competence: treatment of cells with lithium acetate

3. Electroporation

 

Transfection of insect and animal cells

(Term used for animal cells because transformation is used to mean that cell have become cancerous)

1. Coprecipitation of DNA with calcium phosphate, CaHPO4

2. Lipofection

DNA is incorporated into lipid vesicles that fuse with cell membrane

3. Microprojectile bombardment (Biolistics)

DNA is coated onto small metal particles and fired into the cells

4. Microinjection

DNA is manually injected directly into cells --not easy to do

 

Main Page


Comments or questions regarding this page or this class: haddock@micro.siu.edu

Comments or questions regarding this department: microbiology@micro.siu.edu

SIUC / College of Science / Microbiology / Microbiology 421
http://www.micro.siu.edu/micro201/index.html


Last updated: October 4, 2005 /jdh


Comments and questions related to web server:
webmaster@science.siu.edu