A VECTOR AND A METHOD FOR EXPRESSION AND SELECTION OF RANDOM PEPTIDE SEQUENCES

Abstract: The invention relates to an expression/selection vector for expressing random peptide sequences which comprises three restriction sites RS1, RS2 and RS3, which are unique in the vector, RS3 being located downstream relative to Rs1 and upstream relative to RS2, an insert coding for a random peptide inserted in RS3, a selection marker gene located downstream of RS2 and the random peptide sequence and the selection marker gene being expressable in frame to form a fusion protein comprised of the random peptide and the selection marker, a method for selecting random peptide sequences using such a vector and an expression/selection vector library comprising a library of such vectors.

Description: A vector and a method for expression and selection of random peptide sequences The invention relates to a vector and a method for expression and selection of random peptide sequences . Screening of randomized fragments of genomic DNA is one of the key issues of genomics. A specific problem is that only one of three reading frames usually is desired or leads to a suitable expression product when such genomic DNA is screened. Moreover, a DNA to be screened has two possible reading directions where only one is the correct one. When such random peptide sequences are built into fusion proteins, often leader peptides are provided 5' to the fusion pep- tide/protein to be expressed (e.g. if the product has to exert its function in the periplasm or when the protein is supposed to be incorporated into the outer membrane or exported) . Furthermore, selection markers are used which are expressed separately or at least as separate proteins in a common operon. In the case a leader peptide is used for the screening of random peptide sequences together with a displayed carrier protein, eighteen possibilities exist to insert a DNA encoding for a randomized peptide between leader peptide and display peptide (see also Fig. 4) . It follows that only one out of eighteen clones shows the right insert. For usual screening methods this is often an unessential problem. However, there are specific screening systems where such circumstances are undesired, especially, if rare members of a library are to be detected or different screening rounds should be performed with different vectors. Although it is known to combine certain selection markers such as β-lactamase to signal peptides of other proteins to direct the signal markers into the specific locations inside the cell (s. Ghrayheb et al . EMBO J. 3(10) (1984) 2437-2442) such a vector has never been applied in the selection of random peptide sequences . It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vector for expression and selection of random peptide sequences The selection of clones with the correct reading frame reduces the complexity of the library, meaning fewer members have to be screened. For the use of a screening system where it is an absolute necessity to screen only those cells having a desired expression product, the present method is extremely important. For example, in the screening system according to the WO99/30151, only those cells should be screened that do display the epitope on the surface, because cells not expressing the protein on the surface (because e.g. the fusion renders it out-of-frame) cannot be killed by the selection agent. Preferably, the vector according to the present invention comprises a leader sequence upstream to RSI suitable for being expressed in frame with the random peptide and the selection marker and suitable for directing the fusion protein comprised of the leader sequence, the random peptide and the selection marker to a predetermined location. The leader sequence may direct the expressed fusion protein into desired cell compartment (in an euka- ryotic cell) or to specific membrane location (e.g. to the outer membrane or the periplasm in prokaryotic cells) . The leader sequence may be the natural leader sequence for the selection marker, or according to a preferred embodiment, an established and powerful leader sequence heterogeneous for the selection marker used. Preferably, RSI and RS2 are restriction sites which are rare and may e.g. be selected specifically for the organism from which the random peptide sequences are derived from (e.g. a restriction site which is rare or absent in the genome of this organism) . According to a preferred embodiment rare cutting enzymes sites are provided as RSI and RS2. Especially 8 bp cutter sites are preferred as RSI and RS2 , such as Ascl, Fsel, Notl , Pmel, Sbfl, Sfil, Pad or SgrAl sites. RS3 is preferably a site which directly or indirectly leads to blunt ends after cutting (e.g.Smal). It is preferred, especially in case of blunt cut of RS3 , that the vector without random peptide sequence insert is not in frame with respect to the selection marker so that upon religation without incorporation of a random peptide insertion the selection marker is not expressed by the vector. The cloning could also be done using for example a restriction site leaving an overhang in the vector in combination with the ligation of respective linkers to the inserts . The random peptide sequence is preferably derived from the genome of an organism, especially from the genome of a pathogen. The derivation process is preferably a random cutting with a frequently cutting enzyme or the generation of random DNA fragments by DNAsel, optionally with adaptations to the restriction overlaps (e.g. blunt making, introducing sticking ends, linker addition, etc.). Another preferred derivation process comprises the mechanical breaking of the genomic DNA, including sonication or nebulisation, into DNA molecules with appropriate size. Preferably the sequence inserted in the vector has a length of 20 to 500 bp, preferably 100 to 300 bp. Inserts which are longer or shorter may also be provided, however, the risk that the expression efficiency decreases is given with such inserts. Of course, also cDNA libraries, ESTs, etc. may be introduced into the vector as random peptide sequences . The genome wherefrom the random peptides sequences are derived from are preferably from viral pathogens, especially from HAV, HBV, HCV, HIV-1, HIV-2 , EBV, HTLV-I or HTLV-II from a bacterial pathogen, especially from S. aureus, M. tuberculosis, C. pneumo- niae, S. typhimurium, Y. pestis, S.epidermidis or from a eukary- otic pathogen, especially from T. brucei . It is also possible to provide in frame linker sequences between the random peptide sequence and the selection marker gene as well as between the leader peptide sequence and the random peptide sequence. The selection marker may be any selection marker used and suitable in the art, preferably an antibiotic resistance is used, such as kanR, CanR, Zeocin, Neomycin etc. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention β- lactamase is used as a selection marker optionally in combination with an O pA or Lpp leader sequence. According to another aspect the present invention is drawn to a method for selecting random peptide sequences comprising the following steps : providing a vector comprising three restriction sites Rsl, RS2 and RS3 , which are unique in the vector, RS3 being located downstream relative to RSI and upstream relative to RS2, a selection marker gene located downstream of RS2 and optionally a leader sequence being located upstream of RSI, inserting a library of random peptide sequences into RS3 to create a vector library, introducing the vector library into a suitable host, which is capable of expressing a fusion protein comprised of random peptide and selection marker, to create a host library, cultivating said host library on a medium selective with respect to the selection marker, thereby selecting the host individuals which express said fusion protein. This method results in a library of selected vectors which had a clearly defined reading frame and orientation whereby the random peptide sequence may be excised in a way that the defined orientation and reading frame is preserved. According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the present invention the vector of the selected host individual or a (sub-) library of vectors of a selected host library is isolated and cut with RSI and RS2 cutting restriction enzymes to obtain a fragment containing the random peptide sequence in a defined reading frame and orientation. This RS1/RS2 fragment may be inserted into another vector which has been cut with RSI and RS2 cutting restriction enzymes (to obtain an RSI and RS2 insertion site) and - after insertion of the RS1/RS2 random peptide sequence fragment - is suitable for expressing this random peptide in a defined way. According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the present invention the cultivation medium wherein the host library is cultivated contains an antibiotic and the selection marker is an antibiotic resistance. Preferred antibiotic/antibi- otic resistance pairs are β-lactamase - ampicillin, aminoglyco- side phosphotransferase (acetyltransferase, nucleotidyltransfe- rase) - kanamycin (neomycin) , chloramphenicol acetyltransferase - chloramphenicol, Tet R -TnlO gene product - tetracycline and Sh ble gene product - zeocin. According to another aspect of the present invention the invention also relates to a library of vectors (i.e. a variety of vectors with different random peptide sequences) according to the present invention comrising a library of random peptide sequences inserted in RS3 , i.e. the invention is also drawn to a library of vectors according to the present invention or cells containing such vectors . According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a system of vectors comprising a vector according to the present invention and a (second) vector wherein the RS1/RS2 fragment (insert) of this vector may be inserted and preferably expressed. This second vector may be an efficient expression vector, especially designed for producing large quantities of the RS1/RS2 fragment encoded polypeptide. Transfer of the RS1/RS2 fragment from the vector according to the present invention into the second vector is straight forward, because reading frame and orientation of the fragment are clearly identified by the selection method according to the present invention. The invention will be explained in more detail by way of the following example and the associated drawing figures to which, however, it shall not be restricted. Fig. 1 shows plasmid pMAL4.1 (1A) and the insertion site in the β-lactamase gen (IB) ; Fig. 2A-C shows the plasmids for library construction; Fig. 3 shows the generation of a library of S. epidermidis; Fig. 4 shows a graphic representation of the advantages of the present invention in comparison with library screening techniques according to the prior art. E x a m p l e s EXAMPLE 1: Generation of a library of S. aureus A plasmid is generated according to fig.l which allows blunt end insertion of random generated DNA fragments into a linker situated between the OmpA leader peptide and the mature β-lactamase gene. The plasmid if religated at the blunt end restriction site leads to an out-of-frame β-lactamase gene. A series of vectors has been designed (pMAL4, pMAL4.1, pMAL4.2, pMAL5) which contain Fsel/Notl (as RSI and RS2 sites) and a Smal site (pMAL4, pMAL4.1) or a Xbal (pMAL5) as an RS3 site (see fig.2). A library from S. aureus is inserted into the Smal site of pMAL4.1. Insertions that lead to an out of frame β-lactamase gene can be eliminated by their sensitivity against ampicillin. The inserted DNA fragments can be excised with two flanking restriction sites (in the present case Fsel and Notl) that will allow the insertion of these fragments in the same orientation as in the original plasmid. Protocol for pMAI-4.1 library construction Vector preparation 25 μg plasmid DNA 5 μl lOx buffer (NEB 4) 5 μl Smal (20 U/μl; NEB) add H 2 0 (Merck, HPLC grade) to 50 μl Incubate for 2 - 5 h at 25°C, check digest on agarose gel Heat-inactivate Sma • for 20 min at 65°C Separate on 1% agarose gel (GTG-agarose, FMC) in 1 x TAE buffer (TBE buffer) Elute the vector from the gel using a gel extraction kit (Qiagen) Transform aliquot into DH10B cells via electroporation to test digest dT-tailing of vector 25 μl digested plasmid 8 μl 25 mM MgCl 2 (Perkin Elmer) 5 μl lOx Stoffel buffer (Perkin Elmer) 2 μl 100 mM dTTP (Gibco) 1 μl Stoffel fragment of Taq polymerase (10 U/μl; Perkin Elmer) add H 2 0 (Merck, HPLC grade) to 50 μl Incubate at 74°C for 30 min Separate on 1 % agarose gel (GTG-agarose, FMC) in lx TAE buffer (TBE buffer) Elute the vector from the gel using a gel extraction kit (Qiagen) Check efficiency by religation of vector and transformation into DH 10B cells via electroporation Insert preparation Generation of small (50-60 bp) fragments ~ 25 μg genomic DNA in 50 μl H 2 0 5 μl of 10 x DNase I buffer (0.5 M Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 0.5 mg/ml BSA) 5 μl of 10 x MnCl 2 ( 100 mM) 1 μl of ds qualified DNase 1(2 U/μl) Incubation at RT for 3 min Check on 2 % GTG-TAE agarose gel Bulk separate in 2 % GTG-TAE agarose gel Excise appropriate size range (enrichment of fragments are around 50-60 bp range) Generation of large fragments (200-400 bp) ~ 125 μl genomic DNA of S. aureus in 60 μl 1 x TM buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 8, 15 mM MgCl 2 ) Sonicate in Eppendorf tubes in ice water for 30-40 pulses (100 % output, 10 s/pulse) Check fragmentation and size range distribution on 2 % GTG-TAE agarose gel Bulk separate on 2 % GTG-TAE agarose gel Excise fragments and proceed with end treatment for cloning dA-tailing of inserts Use dA-tailing kit from Novagen: •1 μg DNA 8.5 μl 10 x dA Tailing buffer (Novagen) 0.5 μl Tth DNA polymerase (2.5 U/μl, Novagen) add H 2 0 (Merck, HPLC grade) to 85 μl Incubate the reaction at 70°C for 15 min Extract with 1 volume CIAA (Sigma) Vortex vigorously for 60 sec, centrifuge at 12,000 g for 1 min Store at -20°C Ligation 30 μl ligation reaction: 50 ng vector DNA 100 ng insert DNA 6 μl 5x ligation buffer (Gibco) 3 μl of T4 DNA ligase (1 U/μl, Gibco) add H 2 0 (Merck, HPLC grade) to 30 μl Incubate ligation reaction over night at 16°C. Precipitate ligation reaction with EtOH as following: 30 μg ligation reaction 70 μl H 2 0 (Merck, HPLC grade) 10 μl 3M Na-Acetate pH 5.2 1 μl 20 g/μl glycogen (Roche, molecular biology grade) 200 μl EtOH (Merck, molecular biology grade) incubate for at least 60 min at -20°C suspend pellet in 10 μl H 2 0 (Merck, HPLC grade) From the 30 μl ligation, l/10 th of the reaction is used in one transformation. Transformation Cells: DH10B (Gibco), DH5 : (Gibco) Volume of cells: 20 μl/transformation Cuvette: 0.1 cm gap width, BioRad BioRad E. coli Genepulser Voltage: 2.0 kV Usual time constant: 5.0 Recovery medium: S.O.C; add to cuvette immediately after pulse Recovery time: 45 min Plate and grow on LB plates containing 50 μg/ml Kanamycin and Ampicillin Protocol for transfer of Fsel/Notl fragments from pMAL4.1 library to pMAL5 Vector preparation 25 μg plasmid DNA 5 μl 10 x buffer (NEB 2) 5 μl Fsel (2 U/μl; NEB), 2 μl Notl (10 U/μl; NEB) add H 2 0 (Merck, HPLC grade) to 50 μl Incubate over night at 37°C, check digest on agarose gel Heat-inactivate enzymes for 20 min at 65°C Separate on 1% agarose gel (GTG-agarose, FMC) in lx-TAE buffer (TBE buffer) Elute the vector from the gel using a gel extraction kit (Qiagen) Transform aliquot into DH10B cells via electroporation to test digest Insert preparation 25 μg pMAL4.1 library DNA 5 μl 10 x buffer (NEB2 ) 5 μl Fsel (2 U/μl; NEB), 2 μl Notl (10 U/μl; NEB) add H 2 0 (Merck, HPLC grade) to 50 μl Incubate for 2 - 15 h at 25°C, check digest on agarose gel Heat-inactivate enzymes for 20 min at 65°C Separate on 1% agarose gel (GTG-agarose, FMC) in lx TAE buffer (TBE buffer) Elute the vector from the gel using electroelution (Biotrap: Schleicher & Schuell) Precipitate with ethanol (as for ligation reaction) . Ligation and transformation as for pMAL4.1 library construction. Plate and grow on LB plates containing 50 μg/ml Kanamycin. Genomic S. aureus library: Number of cells on Kan (complexity of library before selection) : 1.6 x 10 7 Number of cells on Kan/Amp (complexity of library after selection) : 1 x 10 6 Number of clones tested for insert: 148 Number of clones with insert in-frame: 148 Number of clones without insert: 0 Number of clones with insert out-of-frame: 0 This shows that only those clones will be selected that do possess an insert in the correct frame. EXAMPLE 2: Generation of a library of S. epidermidis using vector pMAL4.31. A plasmid is generated according to fig. 3 that allows blunt end insertion of random generated DNA fragments into the Smal site situated between the OmpA leader peptide followed by a linker of 17 amino acids (HPETLVKVKDAEVAGLP) and the mature β-lactamase gene. Any peptide encoded by the library will therefore be expressed with an extra 17 amino acids at the N terminus in pMAL4.31 as compared to 5 amino acids in pMAL4.1. The additional sequence will increase the likelihood that most fusion proteins encoded by the library are delivered to the periplasm, since it was reported that the net charge of the first 18 amino acids of the mature sequence may affect correct translocation across the cytoplasmic membrane (A.V. Kajava et al . , 2000, J. Bacteriol. 182:2163-9). All other features of pMAL4.31 are the same as described for pMAL4.1. In addition, three plasmids have been constructed to accept inserts that were frame selected by either pMAL4.1 or pMAL4.31 while maintaining the correct reading frame when cloned via the Fsel and Notl restriction sites. pMAL9.1 encodes the lamB gene, pMALlO.l the btuB gene and pHIEll the fhuA gene for display of peptide inserts on the bacterial surface. S. epidermidis genomic DNA has been fragmented to a size of approximately 70 bp. The genomic fragments have subsequently been ligated to Smal digested pMAL4.31 and clones have been selected on LB plates containing 50μg/ml kana ycin only or 50μg/ml kana y- cin and 50μg/ml ampicillin. Number of cells on Kan (complexity of library before selection) : 3 x 10 7 Number of cells on Amp and Kan (complexity of library after selection) : 2 x 10 5 Number of clones tested for insert: 362 Number of clones with insert in frame: 356 Number of clones without insert: 0 Number of clones with insert out-of-frame: 6 The 6 clones that were determined to have a sequence out-of-frame were subsequently not tested for resistance on ampicillin, since they were not preserved during the time required for the sequence analysis. It is therefore entirely possible that the determined sequence is erroneous. In general, it can be stated that more than 98% of all tested clones show the correct reading frame.

Claims: Claims : 1. Vector for expressing and selecting random peptide sequences, characterized in that it comprises three restriction sites RSI, RS2 and RS3 , which are unique in the vector, RS3 being located downstream relative to Rsl and upstream relative to RS2 , an insert coding for a random peptide inserted in RS3, a selection marker gene located downstream of RS2 and the random peptide sequence and the selection marker gene being expressable in frame to form a fusion protein comprised of the random peptide and the selection marker. 2. Vector according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a leader sequence upstream to RSI suitable for being expressed in frame with the random peptide and the selection marker and suitable for directing the fusion protein comprised of the leader sequence, the random peptide and the selection marker to a predetermined location. 3. Vector according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that RSI and RS2 are 8 bp cutting restriction enzyme sites . 4. Vector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that cutting RS3 results in blunt ends . 5. Vector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the random peptide sequence is derived from the genome of an organism, especially from the genome of a pathogen. 6. Vector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the random peptide sequence has a length of 20 to 500 bp, preferably 100 to 300 bp. 7. Vector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises an in frame linker sequence between the random peptide sequence and the selection marker gene. 8. Vector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the selection marker is an antibiotic resistance. 9. Vector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the selection marker is β-lactamase. 10. Vector according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it contains an OmpA leader sequence. 11. Vector according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the random peptide sequence has a length of 20 to 500 bp, preferably 100 to 300 bp. 12. Vector according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the random peptide sequence is derived from a viral pathogen, especially from HAV, HBV, HCV, HIV-1, HIV-2, EBV, HTLV-I or HTLV-II. 13. Vector according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the random peptide sequence is derived from a bacterial pathogen, especially from S. aureus, M. tuberculosis, C. pneumo- niae, S. typhimurium, Y. pestis or S. epidermidis. 14. Vector according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the random peptide sequence is derived from a eukaryotic pathogen, especially from T. brucei . 15. Method for selecting random peptide sequences comprising the following steps: providing a vector comprising three restriction sites Rsl, RS2 and RS3 , which are unique in the vector, RS3 being located downstream relative to RSI and upstream relative to RS2, and a selection marker gene located downstream of RS2 and optionally a leader sequence being located upstream of RSI, inserting a library of random peptide sequences into RS3 to create a vector library, introducing the vector library into a suitable host, which is capable of expressing a fusion protein comprised of ran- dom peptide and selection marker, • to create a host library, cultivating said host library on a medium selective with respect to the selection marker, thereby selecting the host individuals which express said fusion protein. 16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the vector of the selected host individuals is isolated and cut with RSI and RS2 cutting restriction enzymes to obtain a fragment containing the random peptide sequence in a defined reading frame and orientation. 17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the fragment is inserted into another vector which has been cut with RSI and RS2 cutting restriction sites to obtain an RS1/RS2 insertion site. 18. Method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the cultivation medium contains an antibiotic and the selection marker is an antibiotic resistance. 19. Expression/selection vector library characterized in that in a vector according to claims 1 to 14 a library of random peptide sequences is inserted. 20. Vector system comprising a vector according to any one of claims 1 to 14 and a second vector comprising an RS1/RS2 insertion site. 21. Vector system according to claim 20, characterized in that said second vector is an expression vector allowing expression of DNA fragments inserted in said RS1/RS2 insertion site.

Inventors: HENICS TAMAS, MEINKE ANDREAS, HENICS, TAMAS, MEINKE, ANDREAS
Applicants: CISTEM BIOTECHNOLOGIES GMBH, HENICS TAMAS, MEINKE ANDREAS, HENICS, TAMAS, MEINKE, ANDREAS
Application year: 2001
Main classification: C12N15
IPC codes: C12N15