A Convenient Self‐Removing Affinity Tag Method for the Simple Purification of Tagless Recombinant Proteins

Abstract

AbstractIn this work, we describe a novel self‐cleaving affinity tag technology based on a highly modified split‐intein cleaving element. In this system, which has recently been commercialized by Protein Capture Science, LLC under the name iCapTagTM, the N‐terminal segment of an engineered split intein is covalently immobilized onto a capture resin, while the smaller C‐terminal intein segment is fused to the N‐terminus of the desired target protein. The tagged target can then be expressed in an appropriate expression system, without concern for premature intein cleaving. During the purification, strong binding between the intein segments effectively captures the tagged target onto the capture resin while simultaneously generating a cleaving‐competent intein complex. After unwanted impurities are washed from the resin, cleavage of the target protein is initiated by a shift of the buffer pH from 8.5 to 6.2. As a result, the highly purified tagless target protein is released from the column in the elution step. Alternately, the resin beads can be added directly to cell culture broth or lysate, allowing capture, purification and cleavage of the tagless target protein using a column‐free format. These methods result in highly pure tagless target protein in a single step, and can thereby accelerate characterization and functional studies. In this work we demonstrate the single step purification of streptokinase, a fibrinolytic agent, and an engineered recombinant human hemoglobin 1.1 (rHb1.1). © 2023 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.Basic Protocol 1: Expression of high‐titer protein tagged with the Nostoc punctiforme (Npu) DnaE split‐intein on the N‐terminusBasic Protocol 2: Purification of high‐titer protein using the Nostoc punctiforme (Npu) DnaE split‐intein purification platformAlternate Protocol 1: Expression of low‐titer protein tagged with the Nostoc punctiforme (Npu) DnaE split‐intein on the N‐terminusAlternate Protocol 2: Purification of low‐titer protein using the Nostoc punctiforme (Npu) DnaE split‐intein purification platform