title: Molecular analysis of hemolysin-mediated secretion of a human interleukin-6 fusion protein in Salmonella typhimurium.
abstract: Previously, we reported a plasmid-bearing Salmonella typhimurium strain capable of secreting human interleukin-6 (hIL-6) when genetically fused to the Escherichia coli hemolysin transport signal (HlyA(S)). Stationary phase culture supernatants of this strain revealed three major forms of hIL-6-HlyA(S) fusion protein (apparent molecular masses 32.4, 30.3, 27.0 kDa), at which the largest protein presumably represented full-length hIL-6-HlyA(S). The biological activity of the hIL-6-HlyA(S) protein mixture was similar to that of mature hIL-6. Accumulation of hIL-6-HlyA(S) in the culture supernatant occurred only during the initial growth phase, whereas in stationary phase and under in vitro conditions successive cleavage into the two truncated forms was observed. On the other hand, in whole cell lysates only full-length hIL-6-HlyA(S) could be detected, accounting for more than 50% of the totally synthesized protein. Upon cell fractionation, cellular hIL-6-HlyA(S) was exclusively found in the membrane fraction. These results suggest, that in S. typhimurium production and secretion of hIL-6-HlyA(S) is restricted to growing cells. A specific processing by a Salmonella-derived protease did not affect the biological activity of the fusion protein.
authors.affiliation: Chirurgische Universitätsklinik, Chirurgische Forschung, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: von Specht
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C036507:Hlya protein, E coli; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D010450:Endopeptidases