Activity of recombinant cysteine-rich domain proteins derived from the membrane-bound MUC17/Muc3 family mucins

Samuel B. Ho, Ying Luu, Laurie L. Shekels, Surinder K. Batra, Brandon Kandarian, David B. Evans, Phillip G. Zaworski, Cindy L. Wolfe, Robert L. Heinrikson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The membrane-bound mucins, MUC17 (human) and Muc3 (mouse), are highly expressed on the apical surface of intestinal epithelia and have cytoprotective properties. Their extracellular regions contain two EGF-like Cys-. rich domains (CRD1 and CRD2) connected by an intervening linker segment with SEA module (L), and may function to stimulate intestinal cell restitution. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of size, recombinant host source, and external tags on mucin CRD1-L-CRD2 protein activity. Methods: Four recombinant Muc3-CRD proteins and three MUC17-CRD proteins were generated using Escherichia coli or baculovirus-insect cell systems and tested in colonic cell cultures for activity related to cell migration and apoptosis. Results: N-terminal glutathione-S-transferase (GST) or C-terminal His8 tags had no effect on either the cell migration or anti-apoptosis activity of Muc3-CRD1-L-CRD2. His-tagged Muc3-CRD1-L-CRD2 proteins with truncated linker regions, or the linker region alone, did not demonstrate biologic activity. The human recombinant MUC17-CRD1-L-CRD2-His8 was shown to have anti-apoptotic and pro-migratory activity, but did not stimulate cell proliferation. This protein showed similar in vitro biologic activity, whether produced in E. coli or a baculovirus-insect cell system. Conclusions: Recombinant mucin proteins containing a bivalent display of Cys-rich domains accelerate colon cell migration and inhibit apoptosis, require a full-length intervening Linker-SEA segment for optimal biologic activity, and are functional when synthesized in either E. coli and insect cell systems. General Significance: These results indicate that an Escherichia coli-derived full-length His8-tagged human MUC17 CRD1-L-CRD2 recombinant protein is a biologically active candidate for further development as a therapeutic agent.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)629-638
Number of pages10
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects
Volume1800
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2010
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was supported by a VA Merit Review grant (SBH), NIH STTR grant G1 R43 DK072629-01 , NIH center grant ( DK080506 ), and the Research Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Keywords

  • Cell migration
  • Epidermal growth factor
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • MUC17
  • Mucin
  • Recombinant protein

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Activity of recombinant cysteine-rich domain proteins derived from the membrane-bound MUC17/Muc3 family mucins'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this