[Expression and purification of recombinant glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists]

To investigate the effect of GST-KGDX (glutathione S-transferase-Lys-Gly-Asp-X) fusion protein, GP IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist, on platelet function in vitro. The KGDX (Lys-Gly-Asp-X) gene was assembled from 2 synthetic oligonucleotides, 36 bp in length, using BamH I and Xho I restriction enzyme sites at the end of the gene for cloning into the expression vector pGEX4T-1. Expression of fusion protein was directed by the tac promoter. The Escherichia coli DH5a contained the plasmid pGEX-4T-1-KGDX was expressed by 37 degrees C heat induction. The fusion protein of KGDX with glutathione S-transferase (GST-KGDX) was purified in one step from the bacterial lysate by glutathione-agarose beads for affinity chromatography. GST-KGDX was found to be soluble and abundant, the yield of 35 mg/L of cultures was obtained. The GST-KGDX was expressed in E. coli to a level of 48.02% of total cellular protein. GST-KGDX inhibited ADP-induced human platelet aggregation stronger than GST (P < 0.05 or < 0.01). In flow cytometry assay for fibrinogen binding, both GST and GST-KGDX inhibited platelet aggregation by binding with high affinity to GPIIb/IIIa. Mean fluorescence intensity of GST-KGDX fusion protein was significantly higher than that of GST. It is concluded that the GST-KGDX fusion protein can be produced by E. coli and used as an antiplatelet agent.