Production of recombinant human bile salt-stimulated lipase in Pichia pastoris

Recombinant human bile salt-stimulated lipase (rhBSSL) was efficiently expressed under the control of the AOX1 gene promoter in Pichia pastoris. Human BSSL has 16 successively repeated sequences in the carboxy terminal region. The sequence consists of 11 amino acid residues. The coding sequence for the middle 11 of the 16 repeats was removed from hBSSL cDNA to facilitate efficient secretory expression. The clone used for fermentation was a transformant of GS115 (his4) integrated with four copies of the expression cassette containing the modified hBSSL cDNA. Unique fermentation conditions were required for efficient expressions of rhBSSL in the high cell-density fermentation. A sufficient glycerol feed at 30 degrees C and pH 4 under an adequate concentration of dissolved oxygen in the growth phase make the cells active over a long induction period of approximately 15 days. On methanol induction, the concentration of dissolved oxygen should be maintained very low in the presence of sorbitol and skimmed milk at 20 degrees C and pH 5.7. Under these conditions, 0.8-1 g of rhBSSL was secreted in 1 liter of the medium. By immunoelectron microscopy, rhBSSL-tagged gold particles were located in secretion microbodies after the beginning of methanol induction. The secreted rhBSSL was efficiently captured and purified by expanded bed adsorption chromatography.