Disruption of the OCH1 and MNN1 genes decrease N-glycosylation on glycoprotein expressed in Kluyveromyces lactis

J Biotechnol. 2009 Aug 20;143(2):95-102. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2009.06.016. Epub 2009 Jun 24.

Abstract

Glycoproteins secreted by the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis are usually modified by the addition at asparagines-linked glycosylation sites of heterogeneous mannan residues. The secreted glycoproteins in K. lactis that become hypermannosylated will bear a non-human glycosylation pattern and can adversely affect the half-life, tissue distribution and immunogenicity of a therapeutic protein. Here, we describe engineering a K. lactis strain to produce non-hypermannosylated glycoprotein, decreasing the outer-chain mannose residues of N-linked oligosaccharides. We investigated and developed the method of two-step homologous recombination to knockout the OCH1 gene, encoding alpha1,6-mannosyltransferase and MNN1 gene, which is homologue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae MNN1, encoding a putative alpha1,3-mannosyltransferase. We found the Kloch1 mutant strain has a defect in hyperglycosylation, inability in adding mannose to the core oligosaccharide. The N-linked oligosaccharides assembled on a secretory glycoprotein, HSA/GM-CSF in Kloch1 mutant, contained oligosaccharide Man(13-14)GlcNAc(2), and in Kloch1 mnn1 mutant, contained oligosaccharide Man(9-11)GlcNAc(2), whereas those in the wild-type strain, consisted of oligosaccharides with heterogeneous sizes, Man(>30)GlcNAc(2). Taken together, these results indicated that KlOch1p plays a key role in the outer-chain mannosylation of N-linked oligosaccharides in K. lactis. The KlMnn1p, was proved to be certain contribution to the outer hypermannosylation, most possibly encodes alpha1,3-mannosyltransferase. Therefore, the Kloch1 and Kloch1 mnn1 mutants can be used as a foundational host to produce glycoproteins lacking the outer-chain hypermannoses and further maybe applicable to be a promising system for yeast therapeutic protein production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electrophoresis
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics*
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Knockout Techniques / methods*
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Glycosylation
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / genetics
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Kluyveromyces / genetics
  • Kluyveromyces / metabolism*
  • Mannosyltransferases / genetics*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics*
  • Oligosaccharides / chemistry
  • Oligosaccharides / metabolism
  • Polysaccharides / metabolism
  • Protein Engineering
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Serum Albumin / genetics
  • Serum Albumin / metabolism

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Polysaccharides
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Serum Albumin
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Mannosyltransferases