The expression of functional ricin B-chain in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

Yeast cells transformed with plasmids containing ricin B-chain coding sequences expressed this heterologous protein. When ricin B-chain was expressed in a form which resulted in its deposition in the yeast cytosol it formed insoluble aggregates which were devoid of galactose-binding activity. In contrast, when DNA fusions were constructed, in which the B-chain coding sequence was preceded by either the preproalpha-factor leader sequence or the native preproricin signal sequence, the recombinant B-chain products were soluble and biologically active. Both the homologous yeast signal peptide and the heterologous plant signal peptide directed the expressed product into the lumen of the yeast endoplasmic reticulum. As a result, the recombinant B-chain products were processed at the N-terminus, glycosylated and folded into an active conformation, presumably stabilized by correct intrachain disulphide bond formation.