Studies on the Refolding of Egg White Lysozyme Denatured by Urea Using ＂Phase Diagram＂ Method of Fluorescence

The refolding of reduced and non-reducing egg white lysozymes in a urea solution was studied by a ＂phase diagram＂ method of fluorescence. The result showed that in the refolding of the reduced egg white lysozyme, an intermediate state of an egg white lysozyme exists at the urea concentrations in a final renaturation solution being about 4.5 mol/L, their refolding follows a three-state model; while in the refolding of the non-reducing egg white lysozyme, two intermediate states exist at the urea concentrations being separately 4.0 and 2.5 mol/L, and their refolding follows a four-state model. Through the comparison between the unfolding and refolding of an egg white lysozyme in the urea solution, it was found that both of the refolding of reduced and non-reducing egg white lysozyme molecules was irreversible to their unfolding in the urea solution. Finally, a suggested refolding was separately presented for the reduced and non-reducing egg white lysozymes in the urea solution.     

Studies on Aggregation Interaction between Reduced Denatured Egg White Lysozymes during Refolding Procedure in Urea Solution

The aggregation interaction between reduced-denatured egg white lysozymes during refolding procedure in urea solution was studied by means of reducing and non-reducing protein electrophoreses. Results of non-reducing sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis （SDS-PAGE） of the supernatant and aggregate precipitate formed in refolding process show that except being refolded to native egg white lysozymes, the reduced-denatured lysozymes can also form the aggregates with molecular weights （MW） being separately about 30.0 and 35.0 kD, while the reducing SDS-PAGE and the refolding results in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate show that these aggregates are formed chiefly through the misconnection of disulfide bonds between the reduced-denatured lysozymes, and the aggregate precipitates are formed through the non-covalent interactions between the aggregates with molecular weight being about 30.0 kD. From the results of electrophoresis and size-exclusion chromatographic analyses, it can be inferred that the aggregates with molecular weights being about 30.0 and 35.0 kD are bi-molecular and tri-molecular egg white lysozyme aggregates, respectively. And finally, a suggested refolding mechanism of reduced-denatured egg white lysozymes in urea solution was presented.     

Refolding of Denatured／Reduced Lysozyme Using Weak－Cation Exchange Chromatography

Oxidative refolding of the denatured/reduced lysozyme was investigated by using weak-cation exchange chromatography (WCX). The stationary phase of WCX binds to the reduced lysozyme and prevented it from forming intermolecular aggregates. At the same time urea and ammonium sulfate were added to the mobile phase to increase the elution strength for lysozyme. Ammonium sulfate can more stabilize the native protein than a common eluting agent,sodium chloride. Refolding of lysozyme by using this WCX is successfully. It was simply carried out to obtain a completely and correctly refolding of the denatured lysozyme at high concentration of 20.0 mg/mL.     

Spectral Studies on the Conformational Transitions of Bovine Insulin During Denaturant-induced Unfolding

Transitions among various molecule states and conformational changes of bovine insulin were investigated under different denaturing conditions by means of fluorescence phase diagrams,fluorescence quenching,1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate（ANS） binding assay and circular dichroism（CD） spectra.In both guanidine hydrochloride（GuHCl）-and urea-denatured procedures,the spatial structure of insulin molecules changed from ordered states to relative unordered ones with the increasing of denaturant concentration.The GuHCl-denatured process followed a four-state model,for there were two intermediates existed in 2.0 and 6.0 mol/L GuHC1,respectively.Intermediate I1 is more compact than the normal protein.And intermediate I2 has lost most of the secondary structures.When GuHCl concentration was above 6.0 mol/L,the fluorophores originally existed in the internal of insulin molecules would expose to the surface.However,the urea-denatured process followed a three-state model,only one intermediate existed in 2.5 mol/L urea.During the urea-denatured procedure,the fluorophores originally existed in theinternal of insulin molecules didn＇t expose to the surface.     

Enhanced refolding of lysozyme with imidazolium-based room temperature ionic liquids: Effect of hydrophobicity and sulfur residue

The expression of recombinant proteins in microorganism frequently leads to the formation of insoluble aggregates, inclusion bodies (IBs). Thus, the additional in vitro protein refolding process is required to convert inactive IBs into water-soluble active proteins. This study investigated the effect of sulfur residue and hydrophobicity of imidazolium-based room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) on the refolding of lysozyme as a model protein in the batch dilution method which is the most commonly used refolding method. When lysozyme was refolded in the refolding buffer containing [BF4]-based RTILs with a systematic variety of alkyl chain on cations varying from two to eight, less hydrophobic imidazolium cations having shorter alkyl chains were effective to facilitate lysozyme refolding. Compared to the conventional refolding buffer, 2 times higher lysozyme refolding yield was obtained in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([EMIM][BF4]) containing refolding buffer. The refolding yield of lysozyme was even more increased by 2.5 times when 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate ([BMIM][MS]) containing sulfur residue on anion was used. The sulfur residue in [BMIM][MS] is supposed to improve the refolding yield of lysozyme which has 4 intramolecular disulfide bonds. For dilution-based refolding of lysozyme, the optimum concentrations of RTILs in refolding buffer were found to be 1.0 M [EMIM][BF4] and 0.5 M [BMIM][MS], respectively. The optimum temperate for dilution-based refolding of lysozyme with RTILs was 4 °C.     

Mechanism of simultaneously refolding and purification of proteins by hydrophobic interaction chromatographic unit and applications

The hydrophobic amino acid residues of a denatured protein molecule tend to react with the particles of the stationary phase of hydrophobic interaction chromatography (STHIC). These hydrophobic interactions prevent the denatured protein molecules from aggregating with each other. The STHIC can provide high enough energy to a denatured protein molecule to make it dehydration and to refold it into its native or various intermediate states. The outcome not only depends on the specific interactions between amino acids, the structure of STHIC, but also depends on the association between the STHIC and mobile phase. The mechanism of protein refolding and the principle of its quality control by HPHIC were also presented. By appropriate selection of the chromatographic condition, several denatured proteins can be refolded and separated simultaneously in a single chromatographic run. A specially designed unit, with diameter much larger than its length, was designed and employed for both laboratory and preparative     

A Novel Method for Diminishing Protein Aggregation during Denatuaration Process

Many experimental results show that aggregation is the main side reaction in the renaturation process of proteins and once the proteins aggregate, it is rather difficult to be renatured again. Therefore, the renaturation efficiency can be highly enhanced,…     

Studies on the refolding of the reduced-denatured insulin with size exclusion chromatography

The refolding of the reduced-denatured insulin from bovine pancreas was investigated with the size exclusion chromatography (SEC). It was shown that the reduced-denatured insulin originally denatured with 7.0 mol·L-1 guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCI) or 8.0 mol·L-1 urea could not be refolded with a non-oxidized mobile phase. Although the oxidized and reduced glutathione (GSSG and GSH) were employed in the oxidized mobile phase, the reduced-denatured insulin still could not be renatured. However, in the presence of 2.0 mol·L-1 urea in the oxidized mobile phase employed, the reduced-denatured insulin can be refolded with SEC, and the aggregation of denatured insulin can be diminished by urea. In addition, the disul-fide exchange of reduced-denatured insulin also can be accelerated with GSSG/GSH in the oxidized mobile phase. The three disulfide bridges of insulin were formed correctly and the reduced-unfolded insulin can be renatured completely. The results were further tested with re-versed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) and hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC).     

Effect of Native Disulfide Bonds on the Denaturation of Proteins in 6 mol/L Guanidinium Chloride——A Fourier Transformed Infrared Study

The unfolding of bovine serum albumin, lysozyme and ribonuclease A denatured in 6 mol/L GuHCl with their disulfide bridges intact and reduced have been compared by FTIR studies. The peak positions and heights in the deconvolved spectra of amide I bands of the above denatured proteins with native disulfide bonds show marked differences whereas those for the denatured proteins without disulfide linkages are closely similar. The above and other evidence suggest that denatured proteins with intact disulfides still have considerable ordered conformation even in 6 mol/L GuHCl.     

Comparison Between Catalytic Activity and Activity Changes During Denaturation by Guanidine Hydrochloride of Enzymes in Crystalline State and in Solution

The catalytic activity and activity changes during denaturation by guanidine hydrochloride of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase,lactate dehydrogenase and α-chymotrypsin in crystalline state and in solution have been compared.The catalytic activities are lower in crystalline state than in solution. Enzymes in crystalline state are more stable than in solution during denaturation by guanidine hydrochloride.Ammonium sulfate has different effects on catalytic activities of different enzymes and shows protection on all enzymes studied during denaturation by guanidine hydrochloride.The protection is more obvious at high concentrations of guanidine hydrochloride than at low concentrations.It is suggested that the flexibility or mobility of enzyme is required for the catalytic activity and related to the stability of enzymes. Enzymes with less flexibility or mobility are more stable.     

盐酸胍诱导的变性卵清溶菌酶分子重折叠过程及其各稳定构象态的分布和过渡

采用变性和非变性电泳、 高效凝胶排阻色谱、 内源荧光发射光谱和荧光相图以及生物活性测定等方法, 研究了盐酸胍诱导的变性卵清溶菌酶分子的重折叠过程及此过程中卵清溶菌酶分子各稳定构象态的分布和过渡. 结果表明, 当复性液中盐酸胍浓度分别约为5.0和2.4 mol/L时, 变性卵清溶菌酶分子的重折叠过程各存在1个稳定折叠中间态, 重折叠过程符合"四态模型". 在卵清溶菌酶分子四态重折叠过程基础上, 结合盐酸胍与卵清溶菌酶分子之间的缔合-解离平衡, 给出了一个定量描述变性剂诱导的蛋白质分子复性过程中蛋白质分子复性率随溶液中变性剂浓度变化的方程. 该方程包含2个特征折叠参数, 一个是蛋白质分子从一个稳定构象态过渡到另一个稳定构象态的热力学过渡平衡常数k; 另一个是在此过程中平均每个蛋白质分子所结合的变性剂分子数目m. 通过这2个特征折叠参数能够定量描述盐酸胍诱导的变性卵清溶菌酶完全去折叠态、 折叠中间态和天然态分子随复性液中盐酸胍浓度变化的分布和过渡情况.     

脲或盐酸胍溶液中变性溶菌酶复性过程中集聚体的研究

建立在蛋白质变性-复性三态模型的基础上, 给出了一个描述在变性液中变性蛋白质复性时蛋白质浓度和其复性率的关系式. 通过这个关系式, 可以获得两个重要的描述蛋白质变性-复性体系特征的参数, 一个是包含在一个集聚体分子中的变性蛋白质的分子数目n, 另一个是蛋白质从原始态到形成集聚体过程中的表观集聚平衡常数K. 以三种溶菌酶在脲和盐酸胍溶液中的变性-复性过程对此方程进行了验证, 结果表明所给出的方程能够很好地描述三种溶菌酶在这两种变性液中的复性结果, 三种溶菌酶在两种变性液中有形成二分子集聚体的趋势. 变性溶菌酶在复性过程中的电泳和高效凝胶排阻色谱也同时能够监测到复性过程中集聚体的形成, 并且监测结果与上述方程所得的结果一致.     

体积排阻色谱法研究变性溶菌酶分子复性过程中集聚体的形成

在体积排阻色谱柱上研究了还原剂存在时脲和盐酸胍变性的3种溶菌酶溶液的复性和分离过程。当变性液中原始溶菌酶浓度大于10 g/L时,变性溶菌酶在体积排阻色谱柱上除了复性为与未变性溶菌酶出峰时间相同的复性态溶菌酶分子外,还形成了溶菌酶折叠中间体的二分子集聚体。这个结果得到了用稀释法复性时溶菌酶的蛋白电泳检测结果的支持。与稀释法复性相比较,用体积排阻色谱法复性时所形成的折叠中间体二分子集聚体的量要远远低于用稀释法所形成的集聚体的量。     

非还原脲变性蛋白溶菌酶稀释复性过程中集聚现象的研究

用十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳、阴极聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和高效凝胶排阻色谱法, 研究了非还原脲变性蛋白溶菌酶在稀释复性过程中的集聚现象. 实验发现, 在整个稀释复性过程中, 没有蛋白溶菌酶集聚体沉淀产生. 当最终复性液中蛋白溶菌酶浓度小于4.0 mg/mL时, 复性过程中不会形成蛋白溶菌酶分子集聚体; 当最终复性液中蛋白溶菌酶浓度介于4.0～8.0 mg/mL时, 复性过程中会形成由非共价相互作用所引起的蛋白溶菌酶二分子和三分子集聚体; 而当最终复性液中蛋白溶菌酶浓度大于8.0 mg/mL时, 复性过程中除了会形成二分子和三分子蛋白溶菌酶集聚体外, 还会形成四分子蛋白溶菌酶集聚体. 在此基础上, 结合文献, 对非还原脲变性蛋白溶菌酶的稀释复性过程进行了描述.     

用蛋白电泳和高效凝胶排阻色谱法分析还原脲变性蛋白溶菌酶稀释复性过程的集聚体

本文利用蛋白电泳和高效凝胶排阻层析法分析了还原脲变性蛋白溶菌酶稀释复性过程中的集聚体。当用复性液稀释复性还原脲变性蛋白溶菌酶时,会迅速产生可观量的沉淀。沉淀和上清液的不连续十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)和高效凝胶排阻层析分析结果表明,还原脲变性蛋白溶菌酶在稀释复性过程中除了能够复性成天然态蛋白溶菌酶分子外,还会形成可溶的蛋白溶菌酶分子二聚体和三聚体,二聚体和三聚体主要是靠分子间二硫键的错配连接而成的;可溶的蛋白溶菌酶分子二聚体之间通过非共价键相互作用而形成集聚体沉淀,而可溶的三聚体溶菌酶分子则仍处于复性液上清液中。     

Distribution and Transition of Native and Completely Unfolded Conformations in the Unfolding of Bovine Heart Cytochrome c Induced by Urea and Guanidine Hydrochloride

The unfolding of bovine heart cytochrome c induced by urea and guanidine hydrochloride was first studied through intrinsic fluorescence emission spectra and fluorescence phase diagram and the results showed that both of them separately followed a two‐state model. As the simplest sample of the unfolding of protein molecules induced by denaturants, an equation was presented to show the effect of the denaturant concentrations in denaturation solution on the residual activity ratios of bovine heart cytochrome c in their two‐state unfolding. There are two characteristic unfolding parameters K and m in this equation. The former is the thermodynamic equilibrium constant of the unfolding of bovine heart cytochrome c induced by denaturants, the latter is the number of denaturant molecules associated with a bovine heart cytochrome c molecule during the unfolding procedure, and through them the distribution and transition of native and completely unfolded bovine heart cytochrome c conformations under different concentrations of urea or guanidine hydrochloride in denaturation solution can be accurately described.     

Refolding of detergent‐denatured lysozyme using β‐cyclodextrin‐assisted ion exchange chromatography

Chromatography‐based protein refolding is widely used. Detergent is increasingly used for protein solubilization from inclusion bodies. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a refolding method for detergent‐denatured/solubilized proteins based on liquid chromatography. In the present work, sarkosyl‐denatured/dithiothreitol‐reduced lysozyme was used as a model, and a refolding method based on ion exchange chromatography, assisted by β‐cyclodextrin, was developed for refolding detergent‐denatured proteins. Many factors affecting the refolding, such as concentration of urea, concentration of β‐cyclodextrin, pH and flow rate of mobile phases, were investigated to optimize the refolding conditions for sarkosyl‐denatured lysozymes. The results showed that the sarkosyl‐denatured lysozyme could be successfully refolded using β‐cyclodextrin‐assisted ion exchange chromatography. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Microcalorimetric determination of displacement adsorption enthalpies of protein refolding on a moderately hydrophobic surface at 308 K

Both microcalorimetric determination of displacement adsorption enthalpies ΔH and measurement of adsorbed amounts of guanidine – denatured lysozyme (Lys) refolding on the surface of hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) packings at 308 K were carried out and compared with that at 298 K. Study shows that both temperature and concentration of guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) affect the molecular mechanism of hydrophobic interaction of protein with adsorbent based on the analysis of dividing ΔH values into three kinds of enthalpy fractions. The adsorption in higher concentrations of GuHCl (>1.3 mol L^–1) at 308 K is an enthalpy-driving process, and the adsorption under other GuHCl concentrations is an entropy-driving process. The fact that the Lys denatured by 1.8 mol L^–1 GuHCl forms a relatively stable intermediate state under the studied conditions will not be changed by temperature.     

Use of zeolite to refold a disulfide-bonded protein

Zeolites are microporous crystalline aluminosilicates with a highly ordered structure. Using zeolite beta as an adsorbent, denatured/reduced hen egg lysozyme was refolded to the active form at high concentrations. The denatured/reduced lysozyme was adsorbed onto the zeolite and the protein was refolded by desorbing it into refolding buffer, consisting of redox reagents, guanidine hydrochloride, polyethylene glycol, and L-arginine. This zeolite refolding method could be highly effective for various kinds of proteins, refolding them with high efficiency even when they contain disulfide bonds.