Expression and secretion of recombinant ZZ-EGFP fusion protein by the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris

Biotechnol Lett. 2008 Aug;30(8):1409-14. doi: 10.1007/s10529-008-9714-5. Epub 2008 Apr 16.

Abstract

We constructed a fusion protein ZZ-EGFP by fusing the ZZ domains of staphylococcal protein A (SpA) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). ZZ-EGFP was secreted in the yeast, Pichia pastoris, with a hexahistidine tag. Its expression level was determined by measuring the fluorescence of EGFP. When the recombinant yeast cells in shake-flasks were induced with 0.5% methanol for 96 h, a maximum yield of 115 mg ZZ-EGFP/l was obtained. The resulting ZZ-EGFP fusion protein retained immunoglobulin G (IgG)-binding capacity and EGFP fluorescence. ZZ-EGFP was then used in immunofluorescence assays for detecting antinuclear antibodies (ANA); it produced a good signal that was comparable in its brightness and fluorescence pattern to that generated with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled anti-human IgG. Thus, ZZ-EGFP showed great potential in immunological applications due to its ability to bind to various IgG from different animal sources.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism
  • Pichia / metabolism*
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism*
  • Staphylococcal Protein A / chemistry*

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Staphylococcal Protein A
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins