title: Expression in Escherichia coli and simple purification of human Fhit protein.
abstract: The fragile histidine triad (Fhit) protein is a homodimeric protein with diadenosine 5',5"'-P(1),P(3)-triphosphate (Ap(3)A) asymmetrical hydrolase activity. We have cloned the human cDNA Fhit in the pPROEX-1 vector and expressed with high yield in Escherichia coli with the sequence Met-Gly-His(6)-Asp-Tyr-Asp-Ile-Pro-Thr-Thr followed by a rTEV protease cleavage site, denoted as "H6TV," fused to the N-terminus of Fhit. Expression of H6TV-Fhit in BL21(DE3) cells for 3 h at 37 degrees C produced 30 mg of H6TV-Fhit from 1 L of cell culture ( approximately 4 g of cells). The H6TV-Fhit protein was purified to homogeneity in a single step, with a yield of 80%, using nickel-nitrilotriacetate resin and imidazole buffer as eluting agent. Incubation of H6TV-Fhit with rTEV protease at 4 degrees C for 24 h resulted in complete cleavage of the H6TV peptide. There were no unspecific cleavage products. The purified Fhit protein could be stored for 3 weeks at 4 degrees C without loss of activity. The pure protein was stable at -20 degrees C for at least 18 months when stored in buffer containing 25% glycerol. Purified Fhit was highly active, with a K(m) value for Ap(3)A of 0.9 microM and a k(cat)(monomer) value of 7.2 +/- 1.6 s(-1) (n = 5). The catalytic properties of unconjugated Fhit protein and the H6TV-Fhit fusion protein were essentially identical. This indicates that the 24-amino-acid peptide containing the six histidines fused to the N-terminus of Fhit does not interfere in forming the active homodimers or in the binding of Ap(3)A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, 80-211, Poland. tkpaw@amg.gda.pl
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pawelczyk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kowara
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Golebiowski
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matecki
mesh_terms: D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006639:Histidine / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D000099170:Bis(5'-adenosyl)triphosphatase
chemical_list: D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases; D006639:Histidine; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000099170:Bis(5'-adenosyl)triphosphatase