Limited in vivo proteolysis of aggregated proteins

J. L. Corchero, R. Cubarsí, S. o. Enfors, A. Villaverde

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Degradation pathways of insoluble proteins have been analyzed in Escherichia coli by using a N-terminal β-galactosidase fusion protein (VP1LAC) that aggregates immediately after its synthesis. In recombinant E. coli cells, lower molecular mass products, antigenically related to the entire fusion, accumulate together with the entire fusion. In absence of protein synthesis, the insoluble intact protein declines, suggesting that degradation of the recombinant protein also affects aggregated protein. Time course analysis of both soluble and insoluble cell fractions has revealed a limited proteolysis of the insoluble protein that removes the heterologous domain and permits the resulting β-galactosidase fragments to refold and solubilize. Further extensive degradation occurs exclusively on soluble protein. The restricted proteolysis of misfolded, insoluble protein is the initiating event of a subsequent degradative pathway in which rate-limiting steps permit the accumulation of stable degradative intermediates.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)325-330
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume237
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Aug 1997

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