Lactose Induction Increases Production of Recombinant Keratinocyte Growth Factor-2 in Escherichia coli

Abstract

Recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor-2 (rhKGF-2) has previously been expressed in Escherichia coli using isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), a non-metabolizable and expensive compound, as the inducer. In order to determine whether IPTG could be replaced with the cheap and natural lactose to induce rhKGF-2 expression, we examined the expression of rhKGF-2 in flask culture and 30-l fermentation using lactose as the inducer. The optimized fermentation induced with lactose resulted in 1,382 g of cell mass, corresponding to a 84% enhancement in cell mass compared with IPTG induction. While the expression level of rhKGF-2 induced with lactose was comparable to that induced with IPTG, the solubility of target protein was increased by lactose induction than by IPTG induction. The recombinant protein was further purified by cation exchange and heparin-affinity chromatography. 255 milligrams of pure rhKGF-2 was achieved per liter culture by lactose induction, 52% higher than that obtained by IPTG induction. A preliminary biochemical characterization of purified rhKGF-2 was performed by Western blotting and mitogenic activity analysis, and the results demonstrated that the purified lactose-induced rhKGF-2 could react with anti-human KGF-2 antibody and stimulate the proliferation of FGFR2-IIIb-transfected mouse BaF3 cells as IPTG-induced rhKGF-2 could do.