Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Joanne Thwaite, Dr Noel Carter, Professor Colin Harwood, Professor Peter Emmerson
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
The stability of heterologous proteins secreted by gram-positive bacteria is greatly influenced by the microenvironment on the trans side of the cytoplasmic membrane, and secreted heterologous proteins are susceptible to rapid degradation by host cell proteases. In Bacillus subtilis, degradation occurs either as the proteins emerge from the presecretory translocase and prior to folding into their native conformation or after the native conformation has been reached. The former process generally involves membrane- and/or cell wall-bound proteases, while the latter involves proteases that are released into the culture medium. The identification and manipulation of factors that influence the folding of heterologous proteins has the potential to improve the yield of secreted heterologous proteins. Recombinant anthrax protective antigen (rPA) has been used as a model secreted heterologous protein because it is sensitive to proteolytic degradation both before and after folding into its native conformation. This paper describes the influence of the microenvironment on the trans side of the cytoplasmic membrane on the stability of rPA. Specifically, we have determined the influence of net cell wall charge and its modulation by the extent to which the anionic polymer teichoic acid is D-alanylated on the secretion and stability of rPA. The potential role of the dlt operon, responsible for D-alanylation, was investigated using a Bacillus subtilis strain encoding an inducible dlt operon. We show that, in the absence of D-alanylation, the yield of secreted rPA is increased 2.5-fold. The function Of D-alanylation and the use of rPA as a model protein are evaluated with respect to the optimization of R subtilis for the secretion of heterologous proteins.
Author(s): Carter NM; Emmerson PT; Thwaite JE; Harwood CR; Baillie LWJ; Stephenson K; Rees M
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Year: 2002
Volume: 68
Issue: 1
Pages: 227-234
ISSN (print): 0099-2240
ISSN (electronic): 1098-5336
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.68.1.227-234.2002
DOI: 10.1128/AEM.68.1.227-234.2002
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric