High-level expression, purification and pro-apoptosis activity of HIV-TAT-survivin (T34A) mutant to cancer cells in vitro

J Biotechnol. 2006 May 29;123(3):367-78. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2005.11.018. Epub 2006 Jan 10.

Abstract

Survivin, a novel member of the IAP family, was observed to express in the most common human cancers. Anti-cancer therapy targeting survivin had drawn considerable attention. This study focused on high-level expression of recombinant protein TAT-survivin (T34A) mutant in E. coli, purification and bioactivity of pro-apoptosis to various cell lines in vitro. The cDNA encoding survivin was cloned by RT-PCR from breast cancer cell lines B-cap37. After PCR site-directed mutagenesis and construction of expression vector pRSET-B-TAT-survivin (T34A), targeted TAT-survivin (T34A) protein was expressed highly in E. coli BL21 (DE3) by 0.5mM IPTG induction and its yield could reach 650 mg/l in fermentation culture. The fusion protein in a form of inclusion body was then solubilized, refolded and purified to a purity of 98% by cation exchange chromatography and size-exclusion chromatography. Four hundred and eighty milligrams protein of interest was obtained in per liter fermentation culture. This showed that the efficient procedures of large-scale expression and purification were successful for the mass production of the recombinant protein. Pro-apoptosis effects of target protein on four cancer cell lines and one normal cell line from human were confirmed by the change of morphology, and pro-apoptosis activity was evaluated by MTT, fluorescent staining of nuclei and flow cytometry assay. Results indicated that B-cap37 and SW1990 were very sensitive to TAT-survivin (T34A) protein. This finding revealed the recombinant protein was promising as an anti-cancer drug.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / administration & dosage*
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / genetics
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Gene Products, tat / administration & dosage*
  • Gene Products, tat / genetics
  • Gene Products, tat / isolation & purification
  • Gene Products, tat / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Survivin
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Gene Products, tat
  • HIV-TAT-survivin (T34A) protein
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Survivin
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus