ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2017, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (2): 331-339.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2017.02.017

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Analysis on a Transglutaminase from Haemaphysalis longicornis Expressed in Pichia pastoris

HU Yan-hong, YU Ling-ying, HUANG Xiao-hong*   

  1. (Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Neuroscience, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China)
  • Received:2016-08-11 Online:2017-02-23 Published:2017-02-23

Abstract:

Transglutaminases (TGases) are a widely distributed group of enzymes that catalyze the formation of isopeptide bonds either through protein cross-linking via ε-(γ-glutamyl)lysine bonds or through incorporation of primary amines at selected peptide- bound glutamine residues, and involved in multiple important physiological events. This study was aimed at cloning and expression of a transglutaminase gene from a tick Haemaphysalis longicornis Shanghai strain (HlTGase, GenBank accession number: KX59300), and analysis of the molecular characterization and the enzyme activity of the recombinant HlTGase. Total RNA of the adult ticks was extracted and HlTGase gene was amplified. The open reading frame of HlTGase was inserted into a plasmid pPICZC and transformed electrically into yeast Pichia pastoris, which was then induced to express the recombinant HlTGase. The result showed that the open reading frame of the gene was 2 262 bp, which encoded a polypeptide of 756 aa. The polypeptide possessed four transglutaminase domains. The calculated molecular weight of the polypeptide was 84.6 kDa. A phylogenetic tree showed that the polypeptide had a closest relationship with that of Drosophila melanogaster among TGases from 11 typical species, which was correspondent with the traditional taxonomical status. The antibody against the recombinant HlTGase recognized the endogenous HlTGase in a Western blotting analysis. The results also showed that the recombinant HlTGase had enzyme activity to catalyze cross linking between proteins. However, the activity was lower than a commercial available TGase from guinea pigs. HlTGase was expressed in yeast successfully. More modification in the expression and purification of the recombinant HlTGase might be required to improve the enzyme activity. This study would provide basic information for further study on the function and potential application of HlTGase.

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