Use of a modified tryptophanase promoter to direct high-level expression of foreign proteins in E. coli.

We have modified the tryptophanase promoter (PtnaA) for use as a temperature-independent promoter for the production of recombinant proteins. Although any protein will have a temperature range in which its expression is optimal, we find the tryptophanase promoter functions at all physiologically relevant temperatures (20 degrees C to 42 degrees C). Induction at temperatures below 37 degrees C avoids eliciting the heat-shock response and may favor the production of protein in the soluble state. A short segment of the E. coli tnaA promoter containing the catabolite gene activator protein (CAP) binding site but no tryptophan-responsive elements was used to direct synthesis of various proteins. Conditions for high cell density fermentation and induction control were developed. Expression was induced by depletion of glucose and was maximal when an alternative nonrepressing carbon source was supplied. Expression of certain proteins was tightly controlled; however, pre-induction expression was observed with other reporter genes. The tnaC leader portion of the tnaA promoter was found to reduce pre-induction expression in the presence of glucose, although maximal expression was observed only in the absence of this region. The effect of temperature on expression of several recombinant proteins was investigated. Although some proteins were produced only in inclusion bodies as insoluble material, the production of one protein in soluble form was clearly temperature dependent.

Design and evaluation of a two-stage, cyclic, recombinant fermentation process.

A two-stage, cyclic fed-batch fermentation process to produce recombinant human lymphokine was designed. The organism used in the study was Escherichia coli K-12 containing a temperature-sensitive walkaway plasmid bearing an insert which codes for a human lymphokine. Transcription of the recombinant gene is controlled by a lambda repressor/pL promoter system. The lambda promoter is regulated by the temperature-sensitive product of the cl857 gene at 30 degrees C, but at 42 degrees C the promoter is derepressed. The first or growth, stage of the process was maintained at 28 degrees C and operated in the fed-batch mode. The vessel was fed at a rate which gives a constant specific growth rate using a media designed to maintain a constant optical density OD(600) of 50. After the volume in the first stage reached the maximum working volume of the vessel (12 L), a portion of the vessel contents was transferred to the second stage. The second, or induction/product formation, stage also operated in the fed-batch mode, was kept at 42 degrees C, and was fed with a media that is conducive to recombinant human lymphokine synthesis. An optical density of more than 100 was consistently achieved in the second stage. Thirty cycles were completed with a consistent yield of human lymphokine and cell density in each cycle. The process was used to produce 200 L of OD(600) 50 material from the first stage in 10 days. The volumetric productivity (g lymphokine/L. day) of the two-stage, cyclic fed-batch process is twice that of a single-stage, fed-batch fermentation process.