Transient Expression of Tetrameric Recombinant Human Butyrylcholinesterase in Nicotiana benthamiana

Salem Alkanaimsh; Kalimuthu Karuppanan; Andrés Guerrero; Aye M Tu; Bryce Hashimoto; Min Sook Hwang; My L Phu; Lucas Arzola; Carlito B Lebrilla; Abhaya M Dandekar; Bryce W Falk; Somen Nandi; Raymond L Rodriguez; Karen A McDonald

doi:10.3389/fpls.2016.00743

Transient Expression of Tetrameric Recombinant Human Butyrylcholinesterase in Nicotiana benthamiana

Front Plant Sci. 2016 Jun 16:7:743. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00743. eCollection 2016.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis Davis, CA, USA.
² Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis Davis, CA, USA.
³ Department of Plant Science, University of California, Davis Davis, CA, USA.
⁴ Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis Davis, CA, USA.
⁵ Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, DavisDavis, CA, USA; Department of Global HealthShare Initiative, University of California, DavisDavis, CA, USA.
⁶ Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, DavisDavis, CA, USA; Department of Global HealthShare Initiative, University of California, DavisDavis, CA, USA.

Abstract

To optimize the expression, extraction and purification of plant-derived tetrameric recombinant human butyrylcholinesterase (prBChE), we describe the development and use of plant viral amplicon-based gene expression system; Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) RNA-based overexpression vector (TRBO) to express enzymatically active FLAG-tagged plant made recombinant butyrylcholinesterase (rBChE) in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves using transient agroinfiltration. Two gene expression cassettes were designed to express the recombinant protein in either the ER or to the apoplastic compartment. Leaf homogenization was used to isolate ER-retained recombinant butyrylcholinesterase (prBChE-ER) while apoplast-targeted rBChE was isolated by either leaf homogenization (prBChE) or vacuum-extraction of apoplastic wash fluid (prBChE-AWF). rBChE from apoplast wash fluid had a higher specific activity but lower enzyme yield than leaf homogenate. To optimize the isolation and purification of total recombinant protein from leaf homogenates, an acidic extraction buffer was used. The acidic extraction buffer yielded >95% enzymatically active tetrameric rBChE as verified by Coomassie stained and native gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, when compared to human butyrylcholinesterase, the prBChE was found to be similar in terms of tetramerization and enzyme kinetics. The N-linked glycan profile of purified prBChE-ER was found to be mostly high mannose structures while the N-linked glycans on prBChE-AWF were primarily complex. The glycan profile of the prBChE leaf homogenates showed a mixture of high mannose, complex and paucimannose type N-glycans. These findings demonstrate the ability of plants to produce rBChE that is enzymatically active and whose oligomeric state is comparable to mammalian butyrylcholinesterase. The process of plant made rBChE tetramerization and strategies for improving its pharmacokinetics properties are also discussed.

Keywords: Nicotiana benthamiana; butyrylcholinesterase; plant N-glycosylation; plant viral expression system; tetramerization; transient protein production.