Heterologous expression of the class IIa bacteriocins, plantaricin 423 and mundticin ST4SA, in escherichia coli using green fluorescent protein as a fusion partner
Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Frontiers Media
Abstract
The antilisterial class IIa bacteriocins, plantaricin 423 and mundticin ST4SA, have previously been purified from the cell-free supernatants of Lactobacillus plantarum 423 and Enterococcus mundtii ST4SA, respectively. Here, we present the fusions of mature plantaricin 423 and mundticin ST4SA to His-tagged green fluorescent protein (GFP) for respective heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. Fusion of plantaricin 423 and mundticin ST4SA to His-tagged GFP produced the fusion proteins GFP-PlaX and GFP-MunX, respectively. Both fusion proteins were autofluorescent, circumvented inclusion body formation and lowered the toxicity of class IIa bacteriocins during heterologous expression. Not only did GFP-class IIa fusion stabilize heterologous expression and boost yields, the fluorescent intensity of GFP-PlaX and GFP-MunX could be monitored quantitatively and qualitatively throughout expression and purification. This robust fluorometric property allowed rapid optimization of conditions for expression and bacteriocin liberation from GFP via the incorporated WELQut protease cleavage sequence. Incubation temperature and IPTG concentration had a significant effect on bacteriocin yield, and was optimal at 18°C and 0.1–0.2 mM, respectively. GFP-MunX was approximately produced at a yield of 153.30 mg/L culture which resulted in 12.4 mg/L active mundticin ST4SA after liberation and HPLC purification. While GFP-PlaX was produced at a yield of 121.29 mg/L culture, evidence suggests heterologous expression resulted in conformation isomers of WELQut liberated plantaricin 423.
Description
CITATION: Vermeulen, R. R., Du Preez Van Staden, A. & Dicks, L. 2020. Heterologous expression of the class IIa bacteriocins, plantaricin 423 and mundticin ST4SA, in escherichia coli using green fluorescent protein as a fusion partner. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11:1634, doi:10.3389/fmicb.2020.01634.
The original publication is available at https://www.frontiersin.org
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund
The original publication is available at https://www.frontiersin.org
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund
Keywords
Green fluorescent protein, GFP (Protein), Green jellyfish protein, Lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus plantarum, Plantaricin 423, Munditicin ST4SA, Bacteriocins, Probiotics
Citation
Vermeulen, R. R., Du Preez Van Staden, A. & Dicks, L. 2020. Heterologous expression of the class IIa bacteriocins, plantaricin 423 and mundticin ST4SA, in escherichia coli using green fluorescent protein as a fusion partner. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11:1634, doi:10.3389/fmicb.2020.01634