Comparison of functional non-glycosylated GPCRs expression in Pichia pastoris

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2009 Mar 6;380(2):271-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.01.053. Epub 2009 Jan 22.

Abstract

N-linked glycosylation is the most common post-translational modification of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and is correlated to the localization and function of the receptors depending on each receptor. However, heterogeneity of glycosylation can interfere with protein crystallization. The removal of N-linked glycosylation from membrane proteins improves the ability to crystallize these proteins. We screened 25 non-glycosylated GPCRs for functional receptor production in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris using specific ligand-receptor binding assays. We found that five clones were expressed at greater than 10 pmol/mg, 9 clones at 1-10 pmol/mg and 11 clones at less than 1 pmol/mg of membrane protein. Further optimization of culture parameters including culture scale, induction time, pH and temperature enabled us to achieve expression of a functional human muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype 2 (CHRM2) with a B(max) value of 51.2 pmol/mg of membrane protein. Approximately 1.9 mg of the human CHRM2 was produced from a 1-L culture.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Glycosylation
  • Humans
  • Pichia*
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M2 / biosynthesis*
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M2 / chemistry
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / biosynthesis*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry

Substances

  • CHRM2 protein, human
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M2
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Recombinant Proteins