Efficient periplasmic expression of active lysyl endopeptidase and optimizing the purification methods

Recombinant production of lysyl endopeptidase (Lys-C) which is frequently used in proteomics is still challenging due to its complex structure. Herein, periplasmic expression and determining effective factors for recovery of the active enzyme were investigated. The codon-optimized Lys-C gene was cloned into pET26b (+) for periplasmic expression in E. coli Rosetta (DE3). The following parameters affecting expression level and activity of Lys-C were investigated including IPTG concentration (0.05-1 mM), cell density (OD₆₀₀: 0.45-0.8) at induction time, presence of reducing agents (glutathione or cysteine, 0-10 mM) in culture medium or periplasmic extraction buffers, and harvesting time (6 or 20 h). Lys-C was then purified by DEAE and Ni-NTA chromatography methods. The highest expression level was obtained at 0.05 mM IPTG (5.49 %), also 8 mM cysteine, induction at OD_600: 0.45 and 6 h incubation increased enzyme activity to 23.5 %, 13.3 %, and 76.4 %, respectively. The enzyme activity of Lys-C in the presence of 4 mM glutathione and extraction buffers containing 2 mM 2-mercaptoethanol (2 ME) was 81.6 % higher than the condition without reducing agents. Also, 8 mM cysteine in the culture medium and 2 mM 2 ME in extraction increased the activity up to 29.7 %. Moreover, optimization of purification process enhanced the enzyme activity from 0.217 mU to 1.76 mU. Statistical analysis showed the examined parameters significantly affected enzyme activity (p < 0.05). The presence of the reducing agents in the culture medium and extraction buffers presumably improves the Lys-C folding and increases the enzyme activity.