Aim: To construct pET32a/His MBL-CLR recombinant prokaryotic expression plasmid and to express mannan-binding lectin-CLR (MBL-CLR) protein in E.coli
Methods: The human MBL-CLR gene was amplified by PCR from pGEM-MBL plasmid, and was inserted into prokaryotic expression vector pET32a. After identified by restriction mapping and sequencing, the recombinant plasmid pET32a/His MBL-CLR was transformed into E.coli BL21 (DE3) cells. The expressed product was purified by Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography (IMAC) and identified by SDS-PAGE, Western blot and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the antibody from BALB/c mice immunized with the recombinant human MBL protein.
Results: The cDNA fragment of 180 bp was amplified from pGEM-MBL plasmid and the recombinant expression vector pET32/His MBL-CLR was constructed. The recombinant plasmid was consistent with those expected by restriction maps and sequence. Three components of relative molecular mass 30,000, 60,000 and 120,000 in the purified recombinant product were detected by SDS-PAGE and all the components could be recognized by anti-6His antibody in Western blot assay. The three components were correspondingly with the band of the monomer and oligomer of the fusion protein. The purified recombinant product could react with the antibody against the recombinant human MBL protein in the indirect ELISA.
Conclusion: The prokaryotic expression strains that efficiently express recombinant human MBL-CLR and the recombinant human MBL-CLR-Trx fusion protein were obtained successfully, which will help the further structure-function research of MBL molecule.