TY - JOUR

T1 - Purification and functional comparison of nine human Aquaporins produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the purpose of biophysical characterization

AU - Bjørkskov, Frederik Bühring

AU - Krabbe, Simon

AU - Nurup, Casper Normann

AU - Missel, Julie Winkel

AU - Spulber, Mariana

AU - Bomholt, Julie

AU - Molbaek, Karen

AU - Helix-Nielsen, Claus

AU - Gotfryd, Kamil

AU - Gourdon, Pontus Emanuel

AU - Pedersen, Per Amstrup

PY - 2017/12/4

Y1 - 2017/12/4

N2 - The sparse number of high-resolution human membrane protein structures severely restricts our comprehension of molecular physiology and ability to exploit rational drug design. In the search for a standardized, cheap and easily handled human membrane protein production platform, we thoroughly investigated the capacity of S. cerevisiae to deliver high yields of prime quality human AQPs, focusing on poorly characterized members including some previously shown to be difficult to isolate. Exploiting GFP labeled forms we comprehensively optimized production and purification procedures resulting in satisfactory yields of all nine AQP targets. We applied the obtained knowledge to successfully upscale purification of histidine tagged human AQP10 produced in large bioreactors. Glycosylation analysis revealed that AQP7 and 12 were O-glycosylated, AQP10 was N-glycosylated while the other AQPs were not glycosylated. We furthermore performed functional characterization and found that AQP 2, 6 and 8 allowed flux of water whereas AQP3, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12 also facilitated a glycerol flux. In conclusion, our S. cerevisiae platform emerges as a powerful tool for isolation of functional, difficult-To-express human membrane proteins suitable for biophysical characterization.

AB - The sparse number of high-resolution human membrane protein structures severely restricts our comprehension of molecular physiology and ability to exploit rational drug design. In the search for a standardized, cheap and easily handled human membrane protein production platform, we thoroughly investigated the capacity of S. cerevisiae to deliver high yields of prime quality human AQPs, focusing on poorly characterized members including some previously shown to be difficult to isolate. Exploiting GFP labeled forms we comprehensively optimized production and purification procedures resulting in satisfactory yields of all nine AQP targets. We applied the obtained knowledge to successfully upscale purification of histidine tagged human AQP10 produced in large bioreactors. Glycosylation analysis revealed that AQP7 and 12 were O-glycosylated, AQP10 was N-glycosylated while the other AQPs were not glycosylated. We furthermore performed functional characterization and found that AQP 2, 6 and 8 allowed flux of water whereas AQP3, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12 also facilitated a glycerol flux. In conclusion, our S. cerevisiae platform emerges as a powerful tool for isolation of functional, difficult-To-express human membrane proteins suitable for biophysical characterization.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85037105590&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41598-017-17095-6

DO - 10.1038/s41598-017-17095-6

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29203835

AN - SCOPUS:85037105590

VL - 7

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

SN - 2045-2322

M1 - 16899

ER -