Improved method for assembly of hemeprotein neuronal NO-synthase heterodimers

The assembly of mutated and wild type monomers into functional heterodimeric hemeproteins has provided important mechanistic insights. As in the case of NO synthase (NOS), the existing methods to make such heterodimeric NOSs are inefficient and labor intensive with typical yields of about 5%. We have found that expression of neuronal NOS heterodimers in insect cells, where we take advantage of an exogenous heme-triggered chaperone-assisted assembly process, provides an approximately 43% yield in heterodimeric NOS. In contrast, in Escherichia coli little heterodimerization occurred. Thus, insect cells are preferred and may represent a valuable method for assembly of other dimeric hemeproteins.