Introduction
OmpA is a key outer membrane protein found in many Gram-negative bacteria, including A.salmonicida, Shigella dysenteriae, and E.coli. It plays a crucial role in maintaining cell structure, morphology, and porin activity. Additionally, OmpA contributes to bacterial conjugation and acts as a receptor for bacteriophages. Achromogenic atypical Aeromonas salmonicida, the bacterium responsible for goldfish ulcer disease, relies on a paracrystalline outer membrane A-layer protein for its virulence. To study this protein, the gene encoding the monomeric form of A-protein from this bacterium was cloned into a pET-3d plasmid. This allowed for the expression and production of recombinant A-protein in E.coli BL21(DE3). After expression, the protein was isolated from inclusion bodies using a solubilization-renaturation method and further purified to over 95% purity by ion exchange chromatography on Q-Sepharose. This purified recombinant A-protein was then compared to A-protein directly isolated from atypical A.salmonicida using biochemical, immunological, and molecular techniques.
Description
The recombinant A-protein was found to be very similar to the naturally occurring (wild type) form. Both SDS-PAGE and gel filtration chromatography showed it to be a 50.5 kDa monomer. Immunological techniques, including ELISA and Western Blot using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, further confirmed the similarity between the recombinant and wild type A-proteins. Significantly, all forms of A-protein were able to activate the release of tumor necrosis factor alpha from murine macrophages. For further details, refer to Maurice et al. (1999) Protein Expression and Purification 16, 396-404. The purification of OmpA is carried out using proprietary chromatographic methods.
Physical Appearance
Sterile Filtered White lyophilized powder
Formulation
The OmpA protein is provided as a lyophilized powder. The protein was initially in a 1mg/ml solution with 0.02% NaHCO3 before lyophilization.
Solubility
To reconstitute the lyophilized OmpA, it is recommended to use sterile 0.4% NaHCO3. The reconstituted solution should have a minimum concentration of 100µg/ml. This solution can be further diluted with other aqueous solutions if needed.
Stability
Lyophilized Bacterial Outer Membrane Protein-A is stable at room temperature for up to 3 weeks. However, for long-term storage, it is best to store it in a dry environment below -18°C. After reconstitution, the OmpA solution should be stored at 4°C for short-term use (2-7 days) and at -18°C for long-term storage. For long-term storage, adding a carrier protein like 0.1% HSA or BSA is recommended. Repeated freezing and thawing of the protein should be avoided.
Purity
The purity of the OmpA is greater than 98.0%. This is determined using the following methods:
(a) Gel filtration analysis.
(b) SDS-PAGE analysis.
Biological Activity
Experiments were carried out to investigate how bacterial and recombinant A-layer protein interact with murine macrophages, particularly their impact on the internal processes of primed macrophages. This was achieved by exposing peritoneal macrophages to latex beads coated with A-protein and measuring the resulting cytotoxic product. Macrophages derived from thioglycolate stimulation displayed a baseline level of activation (18% cytotoxicity), which significantly increased (48% cytotoxicity) in the presence of latex beads. When the latex beads were coated with any of the three A-protein variants, the cytotoxicity level increased even further, from 48% to 91% (mean +/- SEM).
Synonyms
Outer Membrane Protein-A, OmpA.
Amino Acid Sequence
mdvvispndn tfvttslasv tkqpvldfst aqqnltlnfs evgdlknngf ivleiqgegq fndaeirqwl sngfwrrpft gllvnpndhg nfansgevnd vrkffkiisd gtqltivhti dsngkrlrla lasdveetin fadaevelkl nlanqafklt sgsqgtvalt agalwnasyt adpvatkplf klgklfqlsl tnagkatalv segflklnig danisatdfa itnvttnqti qrdkvnltlt gdvsafkkda ngnlvnkaga sigwkaaadg qsatavlgag nmaggvqnal aafgtlyvaa dntvpvpavn fnvkaeiqgd sqatynyfkd eladlfiltr dgmkfdtitt gttsanlihi rdvsnilpte ggkifvtite yadhaangrg egtvlvtrka lsvtlpsgga vtlkpadvaa dvgasitagr qarlvfevet nqgevavkks naegvdiqng trgtaplvdf tl.