Expression and Purification of Snake Antivenom Peptide in Pichia pastoris
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
Juarez Contreras, Israel
Subsequent Statement of Responsibility
Komives, Claire
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
San Jose State University
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2019
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
54
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
M.S.
Body granting the degree
San Jose State University
Text preceding or following the note
2019
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
It has been shown that a peptide of the first 10-15 N-terminal amino acids of the lethal toxin neutralizing factor (LTNF) protein found in opossums (Didelphis spp.) holds promise as a low-cost therapy for snake envenomation. To date, the 11-mer has been expressed in E. coli and shown to neutralize snake venoms. However, possible endotoxin concerns warrant an investigation into other microbial hosts. The methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris, shows promise as an alternative host. Active LTNF peptide was expressed and purified in P. pastoris. This was accomplished by subcloning a tandem repeat of the first 15 N-terminal amino acids of lethal toxin neutralizing factor (LTNF-15) into the Pichia expression vector, PPIC9K and transforming the yeast via electroporation. Expression of LTNF-15 from Pichia was verified by applying a fluorescent histidine tag stain onto a SDS-PAGE gel containing supernatant samples of P. pastoris clones. Purification of the LTNF-15 peptide was conducted by Ni-NTA purification. It was found that expressed LTNF-15 peptide demonstrated neutralizing activity in an in vitro assay using azocasein. In addition, it was determined that a protein concentration of 70 mg/L of LTNF-15 was attained during the fermentation process. Thus, showing promise of Pichia as a viable production host.