重组人sCD40L-IZ基因的克隆、原核表达及重组三聚体蛋白的鉴定

目的:克隆并表达有生物学活性的CD40配体(CD40ligand,CD40L)重组蛋白。方法:应用PCR技术克隆CD40L胞外功能区(E107-L261)基因,并在其N端融合异亮氨酸拉链(isoleucinezipper,IZ)促使其形成三聚体活性形式,同时为了后期纯化的需要,在IZ的N端融合6个His,将所融合得到的sCD40L-IZ克隆进入pET30a表达载体,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)表达体系进行诱导表达。结果:重组蛋白sCD40L-IZ以包涵体形式在大肠杆菌(BL21)中得到较高水平的表达。通过蛋白的变性、复性和HiTrapTM亲和层析获得了纯度达95%以上的sCD40L-IZ重组蛋白。经凝胶过滤层析和非还原SDS-PAGE分析验证了其确有三聚体形式。激光共聚焦实验结果表明,重组蛋白sCD40L-IZ可与骨髓瘤细胞株XG2表面CD40分子结合,并促使其在膜表面发生聚集。结论:人sCD40L-IZ重组蛋白在大肠杆菌体系得以成功表达,并以三聚体活性形式发挥功能,为今后进一步研究其与凋亡、疾病发病机制的关系及其在临床治疗中的应用奠定了基础。

High level expression of recombinant human sCD40L-IZ and identification of its biological activation

AIM: To clone and express the recombinant human soluable CD40 ligand(CD40L) with biological activation. METHODS: The isoleucine zipper (IZ) gene was fused at N-terminal of CD40L gene coding E107-L261 contributing to form trimer. The gene coding hexahistidine was fused at the N-terminal of IZ because the sCD40L-IZ fusion protein could be purified by affinity chromatography. Then the fusion gene was amplified and cloned into expression plasmid pET30a. RESULTS: The protein sCD40L-IZ with His-tag at the N-terminal was effectively expressed in E.coli BL21 (DE3) as inclusion bodies and a denaturation and refolding procedure was performed to acquire soluble sCD40L-IZ. The fusion protein sCD40L-IZ was conveniently purified using HiTrap~ TM affinity column with above 95% purity. The gel filtration chromatography and non-reduced SDS-PAGE identified the trimeric structure of the recombinant protein. The microscope analysis showed the sCD40L-IZ interacted with the membrane CD40 on XG2, a multiple myeloma cell line. CONCLUSION: The recombinant human trimeric CD40L-IZ was expressed in prokaryotic cells successfully, which has provided a basis for further study of the relationship between CD40L and apoptosis, CD40L and pathogenesis of illness. It is also useful to clinical treatment.