Cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs) are found throughout the animal kingdom and perform different functions. They are monomeric proteins with a molar mass of 20 – 30 kDa. Most CRISPs in snake venoms are inhibitors of ion channels, including voltage‑gated K+ channels, Ca2+-dependent K+ channels, voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and ion channels regulated by cyclic nucleotides. The biological role of CRISPs in the venom of nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes ammodytes, Vaa) is not yet clear. To better understand their function, we have attempted to produce recombinant VaaCRISP‑1 (rVaaCRISP-1). The cDNA sequence of rVaaCRISP-1 was inserted into the vector pMAL-c5x, which was later transformed into Escherichia coli (E. coli) ER2523. The fusion protein consisted of N-terminal maltose-binding protein (MBP) to facilitate the isolation process of rVaaCRISP-1 on an amylose resin, a linker containing the Factor Xa (FXa) cleavage site and of C-terminal rVaaCRISP-1. Expression of the fusion protein on a lower scale (up to 250 ml) was successful, whereas the expression on a large (2 litre) scale failed. Namely, only analysis of the bound fraction after affinity chromatography on an amylose column of expression in the first case showed purified fusion protein. In the latter case, the analysis of the bound fraction after affinity chromatography showed only large amounts of MBP-tag and no fusion protein. After cleavage by FXa, rVaaCRISP-1 was purified by the RP-HPLC on a C18 column. Structural characteristics of rVaaCRISP-1, mass and hydrophobicity, shown by the RP‑HPLC profile, are very similar when compared to the structural characteristics of VaaCRISP-1 isolated from the crude venom. The estimated yield of our procedure was ~0,1 mg of rVaaCRISP‑1 per litre of the growth medium, while optimal procedures may give even more than 100 mg of recombinant protein per litre of growth medium. Overall, we have developed a procedure to prepare rVaaCRISP-1 in its native form, but improvements are needed to increase the yield.
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