Purification and antigenicity of two recombinant forms of Boophilus microplus yolk pro-cathepsin expressed in inclusion bodies

Protein Expr Purif. 2006 Jan;45(1):107-14. doi: 10.1016/j.pep.2005.07.009. Epub 2005 Aug 8.

Abstract

The tick Boophilus microplus is a bovine ectoparasite present in tropical and subtropical areas of the world and the use of vaccines is a promising method for tick control. BYC is an aspartic proteinase found in eggs that is involved in the embryogenesis of B. microplus and was proposed as an important antigen in the development of an anti-tick vaccine. The cDNA of BYC was amplified by PCR and cloned for expression in two forms with and without thioredoxin fusion protein (Trx), coding recombinant proteins named rBYC-Trx and rBYC, respectively. Expression, solubility, and yields of the two forms were analyzed. The recombinant proteins were expressed in inclusion bodies (IBs) and three denaturant agents (N-lauroyl sarcosine, guanidine hydrochloride, and urea) were tested for IBs solubilization. The N-lauroyl sarcosine solubilized 90.4 and 92.4% of rBYC-Trx and rBYC IBs, respectively, and was the most efficient denaturant. Two recombinant forms were affinity-purified by Ni2+-Sepharose under denaturing conditions. After dialysis, the yield of soluble protein was 84.1% for r-BYC-Trx and 5.9% for rBYC. These proteins were immune-reactive against sera from rabbit, mouse, and bovine previously immunized with native BYC, which confirms the antigenicity of the recombinant BYCs expressed in the Escherichia coli system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / genetics*
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / isolation & purification*
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Enzyme Precursors / genetics*
  • Enzyme Precursors / isolation & purification*
  • Enzyme Precursors / metabolism
  • Epitopes
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Guanidine / pharmacology
  • Inclusion Bodies / drug effects
  • Inclusion Bodies / genetics*
  • Inclusion Bodies / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Sarcosine / pharmacology
  • Solubility
  • Ticks / genetics*
  • Urea / pharmacology

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • Enzyme Precursors
  • Epitopes
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Urea
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • Boophilus yolk pro-cathepsin
  • Guanidine
  • Sarcosine

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AY966003