Heterologous Overexpression of Sup35 in E. coli Leads to Both Monomer
and Complex States
Abstract
The heterologous overexpression states of prion proteins play a critical
role in understanding the mechanisms of prion-related diseases. We
report herein the identification of soluble monomer and complex states
for a bakers’ yeast prion, Sup35, when expressed in E. coli. Two
peaks are apparent with the elution of His-tagged Sup35 by imidazole
from a Ni 2+ affinity column. Peak I contains Sup35 in
both monomer and aggregated states. Sup35 aggregate is abbreviated as
C-aggregate and includes a non-fibril complex comprising Sup35
aggregate-HSP90-Dna K, ATP synthase β unit (chain D), 30S ribosome
subunit, and Omp F. The purified monomer and C-aggregate can remain
stable for an extended period of time. Peak II contains Sup35 also in
both monomer and aggregated (abbreviated as S-aggregate) states, but the
aggregated states are caused by the formation of inter-Sup35 disulfide
bonds. This study demonstrates that further assembly of Sup35 non-fibril
C-aggregate can be interrupted by the chaperone repertoire system in
E. coli.