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Proteins that contain multiple disulfide bonds (SS bonds) expressed in Escherichia coli are usually problematic. This study reports the successful recombinant expression of the antimicrobial peptide β-defensin isolated from olive flounder in E. coli. The native form of β-defensin contained three discrete disulfide bridges: Cys1–Cys5, Cys2–Cys4, Cys3–Cys6. We constructed a periplasmic expression vector using small leading transmembrane protein YoaJ, and eventually, isolated bioactive β-defensin, which was then subjected to mass spectroscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and anti-microbial testing. Results indicated bioactive β-defensin with a properly folded and native structure was formed. To investigate the roles of SS bonds, site-directed mutation method was applied to disrupt one, two, or three disulfide bridges. A dose-dependent effect was observed when more disulfide bridges were broken and a correlation between structure and function was observed, which further illustrated the key roles of SS bonds in maintaining the conserved motif and secondary structure of olive flounder beta-defensin.

Recombinant expression in Escherichia coli allows the simple, economical, and effective production of bioactive peptides. On the other hand, the production of native peptides, particularly those rich in disulfide bonds, is a major problem. Previous studies have reported that the use of carrier proteins for fusion expression can result in good peptide yields, but few are folded correctly. In this study, two transmembrane small proteins in E. coli, YoaJ and YkgR, which both orientate with their N-termini in cytoplasm and their C-termini in periplasm, were used for fusion expression. The recombinant production of two peptides, asteropsin A (ASPA) and β-defensin (BD), was induced in the periplasm of E. coli using a selected carrier protein. Both peptides were expressed at high levels, at yields of approximately 5-10 mg/L of culture. Mass spectrometry showed that the resulting peptide had the same molecular weight as their natural forms. After purification, single peaks were observed by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), demonstrating the absence of isoforms. Furthermore, cytoplasmically expressed fusion proteins with a carrier at their C-termini did not contain disulfide bonds. This study provides new carrier proteins for fusion expression of disulfide bond-rich peptides in E. coli.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a typo in the author name and in Acknowledgement section. The author name should be Youg Ok Kim instead it was published incorrectly as Yong Ok Kim.

Contamination by heavy metals and sex hormones in a water environment is an important health issue. In this study, we investigated the estrogenic effects of cadmium (Cd) administration alone and in combination with 17beta-estradiol (E2) on the hepatocytes of male Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana). Their vitellogenin (VTG) expression and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed upon exposure to Cd alone or to both Cd and E2. Our results suggest that the VTG levels induced by the co-treatment of 100 nM E2 and 100 nM CdCl2 were significantly higher than those induced by 100 nM E2 alone (p < 0.05), and were comparable to vitellogenin induction observed with 1 μM E2. A similar result was observed by western blot analysis in the culture medium of hepatocytes. Meanwhile, Cd (but not E2) increased the ROS levels. These results suggest that Cd has a cooperative effect with E2 in the induction of VTG, thus acting as an estrogenic disruptor. Cd also causes oxidative stress that occurs with the enhanced vitellogenesis.

Cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) has attracted an increasing interest due to its important role in metabolism of contaminants in aquatic environment and kinds of biomarkers to monitor the pollutants. CYPs are reported to express in E. coli, yeast and insect cells, while expression levels in these systems are too low to continue further study, such as functional and structural research. In this study, we construct an expression system using Shewanella oneidensis to produce goldfish CYP1A. RBS sequence that can elevate expression level by initiating the translation was added. A leading signal peptide which will direct the goal protein into periplasm of the host was introduced. Moreover, large-size plasmid construction strategy was applied during the successful construction process of expression system. At the position of ~60 kDa, a single band was seen clearly after expression; furthermore the amount of expressed CYP1A was as high as 0.02 micromoles per liter in the culture. Heme test was also performed, the result showed the typical P450 hemoprotein spectra. All these data suggest the possible suitable expression system for fish P4501A system was constructed.

The 1H NMR signals of the heme methyl, propionate and related chemical groups of cytochrome c3 from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F (D.v. MF) were site-specifically assigned by means of 1D NOE, 2D DQFCOSY and 2D TOCSY spectra. They were consistent with the site-specific assignments of the hemes with the highest and second-lowest redox potentials reported by Fan et al. (Biochemistry, 29 (1990) 2257-2263). The site-specific heme assignments were also supported by NOE between the methyl groups of these hemes and the side chain of Val18. All the results contradicted the heme assignments for D.v. MF cytochrome c3 made on the basis of electron spin resonance (Gayda et al. (1987) FEBS Lett., 217 57-61). Based on these assignments, the interaction of cytochrome c3 with D.v. MF ferredoxin I was investigated by NMR. The major interaction site of cytochrome c3 was identified as the heme with the highest redox potential, which is surrounded by the highest density of positive charges. The stoichiometry and association constant were two cytochrome c3 molecules per monomer of ferredoxin I and 10(8) M-2 (at 53 mM ionic strength and 25 degrees C), respectively.

Background SV40 DNA replication system is a very useful tool to understand the mechanism of replication, which is a tightly regulated process. Many environmental and cellular factors can induce cell cycle arrest or apoptosis by inhibiting DNA replication. In the course of our search for bioactive metabolites from the marine sponges, psammaplin A was found to have some anticancer properties, the possible mechanism of which was studied. Methods Cell viability was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) to count living RAW264.7 cells by combining 2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (WST-8) and 1-methoxy-phenazine methosulfate (1-methoxy-PMS). The effect of psammaplin A on DNA replication was carried out in SV40 DNA replication system in vitro. The activities of topoisomerase I and polymerase α-primase were measured by the relaxation of superhelical plasmid DNA and the incorporation of [3H]dTTP to the template respectively. The ssDNA binding activity of RPA was assessed by Gel Mobility Shift Assay (GMSA). Results We have found that psammaplin A delivers significant cytotoxic activity against the RAW264.7 cell line. It was also found that psammaplin A could substantially inhibit SV40 DNA replication in vitro, in which polymerase α-primase is one of its main targets. Conclusion Taken together, we suggest that psammaplin A-induced cytotoxicity may correlate with its inhibition on DNA replication. Psammaplin A has the potential to be developed as an anticancer drug.