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In recent decades, immunotoxins have attracted significant attention in treatment of a wide range of diseases including cancers due to their natural origins and their role in blocking crucial pathways within the cells. Ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) are efficient molecules in blocking protein synthesis through interactions with ribosomal rRNA molecules. cDNA molecule encoding HER2 scFv antibody fragment originated from trastuzumab attached to the mature alpha luffin gene fragment was subcloned into pET28a expression vector and expressed in different E. coli expression hosts. Identity of the expressed recombinant protein was investigated through western blotting and the fusion protein was purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The biological activity (toxicity) of the protein was investigated on DNA and RNA samples. A 58 kDa protein was expressed in E. coli. The best protein expression level was achieved in 0.2 mM IPTG at 30 °C in TB medium using E. coli BL21 (DE3) host strain. The fusion protein showed RNase and DNA glycosylase activity on tested RNA and DNA samples. DNA glycosylase activity of the recombinant fusion protein showed that alpha luffin part of this protein is active in conjugation to the scFv molecule and the expressed protein can be further studied in targeted biological in vitro assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "bispecifics" market improved over the past decade due to the development of many technological platforms including bispecific T cell engagers (BiTEs). The approval of blinatumomab, the most advanced bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) in clinical trials, can be a significant milestone in the development of bispecific antibodies. Both Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and E. coli strain are considered as the most widely used hosts for the large-scale production of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. Since both of the economic and qualitative aspects of protein production are important in industry, selection of a suitable protein expression system is very critical. The BsAb gene was cloned into the expression vectors FC550A-1, pcDNA3.1 (+), and PET22b and 6 × His-tagged BsAb then purified on a Ni-NTA chromatography column. Both SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis of the purified protein demonstrated that blinatumomab was successfully expressed as a 55 kDa in both expression systems. The antigen-binding properties of blinatumomab were compared in the mammalian system versus Escherichia coli. The results showed that the purified antibody from a mammalian expression system has better binding activity than the one from E. coli host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α-Luffin, found in Luffa cylindrica seeds, is a type I ribosome inactivating proteins. Cytotoxic effects make it an appropriate candidate for the construction of immunotoxins and conjugates. Because of limited natural resources, recombinant technology is the best approach to achieve large-scale production of plant-based proteins. In the present study, α-luffin protein was expressed in E. coli and the effects of different temperature conditions, SUMO fusion tag, and cultivation strategies on total expression and solubility were investigated. Protein expression was evaluated at different intervals (0, 4, 6, 8, 24 h) postinduction. Our results showed that EnBase had higher efficiency than LB, and maximum solubility and total protein expression were achieved 24 h after induction at 30 °C and 25 °C, respectively. It was shown that SUMO tag is an effective strategy to improve protein solubility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: During past decades Hansenula polymorpha has attracted global attention for the expression of recombinant proteins due to its high growth rate, minimal nutritional porequirements and use of methanol as a low cost inducer. Materials and Methods: The corresponding nucleotide sequences for the expression of heterologous genes in Hansenula poylmorpha were extracted and assembled in an E. coli vector. The constructed expression cassette included formate dehydrogenase promoter (pFMD), a secretory signal sequence, a multiple cloning site (MCS) and methanol oxidase (MOX) terminator. Zeocin resistance gene fragment and complete cDNA encoding granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) were cloned downstream of the expression cassette in-frame with signal sequence. Restriction mapping and sequence analysis confirmed the correct cloning procedures. Final vector was transformed into Hansenula and recombinant host was induced for the expression of GCSF protein by adding methanol. SDS-PAGE and immuno-blotting were performed to confirm the identity of r-GCSF. Results: The expression cassette containing gcsf gene (615bp) and zeocin resistance marker (sh-ble, 1200bp) was prepared and successfully transformed into competent Hansenula polymorpha cells via electroporation. Zeocin resistant colonies were selected and GCSF expression was induced in recombinant Hansenula transformants using 0.5% methanol and an approximately 19kDa protein was observed on SDS-PAGE. Western blot analysis using serum isolated from GCSF-treated rabbit confirmed the identity of the protein. Conclusions: Molecular studies confirmed the designed expression cassette containing gcsf gene along with pFMD and signal sequence. The expressed 19kDa protein also confirmed the ability of designed vector in expressing heterologous genes in Hansenula cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is one of the most important thrombolytic agents used in patients with vascular occlusions such as acute ischemic stroke or myocardial infarction. A variety of recombinant protein expression systems have been developed for heterologous gene expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts. In recent years, Leishmania tarentolae (L. tarentolae), a nonpathogenic trypanosomatid protozoa, has come under consideration because of its safety and immunogenicity as a vaccine vector and special attributes in the expression of complex proteins. This study was done to improve rt-PA expression in this protozoon and create the opportunity for the replacement of rt-PA gene with other genes for the production of other complex proteins. Methods: Two expression cassettes were used for the integration of two copies of t-PA cDNA, one copy in each cassette, into the parasite genome by electroporation. The transformed clones were selected by antibiotic resistancy. The expression of active secreted rt-PA was confirmed by Western blot analysis and Chromolize assay. Results: Appearance of a 64 kD band in nitrocellulose membrane in the Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of full-length rt-PA in the culture media. Chromolize assay showed the expression levels of active recombinant t-PA in single and double transfected L. tarentolae clones- 375 IU/ml and 480 IU/ml of the culture media, respectively. Conclusion: The produced rt-PA in the culture media containing the transfected cells was at least seven times higher than what has been reported in previous studies on L. tarentolae or on some other eukaryotic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transient Gene Expression (TGE) gained popularity over the last decade as a rapid method for the production of milligram to gram quantities of recombinant proteins for preclinical studies in biophama industry. Thereby, the optimization of the TGE technique for Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) as the dominant host for the production of biotherapeutics is of great interest to reach the values for Human Embryo Kidney-293 (HEK-293) cells in terms of transfection efficiencies and production titers. TGE efficiencies are cell line and vector dependant. Methods: In transfection efficiency optimization experiments, different starting cell densities, different amounts of plasmid DNA and PEI transfection reagent were investigated to achieve the best conditions leading to maximum transfection efficiencies. Furthermore, in order to investigate the effect of peptone feeding on transfection efficiency, three different sources of peptones with the greatest effect in the CD DG44 basal media were selected; Casein Tryptone N1, Soy petone A2SC and Soy peptone E110. Results: The transfection strategy performed here was able to make an outstanding increase in transfection efficiency of CHO DG44 cell line transfected with pTracer-SV40-mutated t-PA plasmid from 3.6% in our starting nonoptimized condition to 66.93% in finally optimized situation. Moreover, peptone feeding strategy used here was successful to increase volumetric productivities up to 37%. In addition, the amounts of both PEI and plasmid DNA were reduced up to 66% and 25%, respectively compared to our previous protocol. Conclusion: Here we described an optimization process for TGE in suspensionadapted CHO cells based on Polyethylenimine (PEI)/DNA concentration, DNA: PEI ratio, starting cell densities and peptone feeding strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the most commonly used host system for the expression of high quality recombinant proteins. However, the development of stable, high-yielding CHO cell lines is a major bottleneck in the industrial manufacturing of therapeutic proteins. Therefore, different strategies such as the generation of more efficient expression vectors and establishment of genetically engineered host cells have been employed to increase the efficiency of cell line development. In order to examine the possibility of generating improved CHO host cells, cell line engineering approaches were developed based on ceramide transfer protein (CERT), and X-box binding protein 1s (XBP1s). Methods: CHO cells were transfected with CERT S132A, a mutant variant of CERT which is resistant to phosphorylation, or XBP1s expression plasmids, and then stable cell pools were generated. Transient expression of t-PA was examined in engineered cell pools in comparison to unmodified CHO host cells. Results: Overexpression of CERT S132A led to the enhancement of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) expression in transient expression by 50%. On the other hand, it was observed that the ectopic expression of the XBP1s, did not improve the t-PA expression level. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study indicate successful development of the improved CHO host cells through CERT S132A overexpression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The anticancer properties of recombinant α-luffin (LUF) are wellestablished. However, the cytotoxic effects of encapsulating LUF within niosomes on the SKBR3 breast cancer cell line have yet to be explored. Our study aimed to investigate whether this encapsulation strategy could improve cytotoxic effects., Methods: Alpha-luffin was expressed, purified, and refolded. Then, this protein was utilized to craft an optimal formulation, guided by experimental design. In this work, we have explored various physicochemical properties, including particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, morphology, entrapment efficiency, drug release and kinetics, storage stability, and FTIR spectroscopy. Additionally, we have assessed the cellular uptake and cytotoxic effect of the optimized niosome formulation on the SKBR3 breast cancer cell line., Results: The optimized niosome exhibited a mean diameter of 315±6.4 nm (DLS). Successful encapsulation of LUF into regularly shaped, spherical niosomes was achieved, with an encapsulation efficiency of 73.45±2.4%. Notably, Niosomal LUF (NLUF) exhibited significantly increased cytotoxicity against SKBR3 cells., Conclusion: These findings suggest that niosomes loaded with LUF hold promise as a potential treatment strategy for breast cancer., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)