Modified secreted alkaline phosphatase as an improved reporter protein for N-glycosylation analysis

PLoS One. 2021 May 25;16(5):e0251805. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251805. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

N-glycosylation is a common posttranslational modification of proteins in eukaryotic cells. The modification is often analyzed in cells which are able to produce extracellular, glycosylated proteins. Here we report an improved method of the use of genetically modified, secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) as a reporter glycoprotein which may be used for glycoanalysis. Additional N-glycosylation sites introduced by site-directed mutagenesis significantly increased secretion of the protein. An improved purification protocol of recombinant SEAP from serum or serum-free media is also proposed. The method enables fast and efficient separation of reporter glycoprotein from a relatively small amount of medium (0.5-10 ml) with a high recovery level. As a result, purified SEAP was ready for enzymatic de-glycosylation without buffer exchange, sample volume reductions or other procedures, which are usually time-consuming and may cause partial loss of the reporter glycoprotein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaline Phosphatase / genetics*
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / isolation & purification
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetulus
  • Enzyme Assays
  • Genes, Reporter*
  • Glycoproteins / genetics*
  • Glycoproteins / isolation & purification
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Glycosylation
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Glycoproteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Alkaline Phosphatase

Grants and funding

This research was supported by funding from National Science Center (NCN), Kraków, Poland, Website: www.ncn.gov.pl, Grant No. 2016/21/B/NZ5/00144 (MO) The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.