This work was performed within the RESOLUTE project. RESOLUTE has received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No 777372. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union&#39;s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and EFPIA. This article reflects only the authors&#39; views and neither IMI nor the European Union and EFPIA are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. The pHTBV plasmid was kindly provided by Prof. Frederick Boyce (Harvard).

Strategies for Expressing and Purifying Solute Carrier Transporters

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

The development of SLC-targeting therapies has remained hampered due to the absence of systematic characterization of transporter function. This has led to disproportionally fewer drugs targeting this protein class relative to GPCRs and ion channels63, despite their numerous roles in normal and pathophysiological processes. RESOLUTE is an international consortium aimed at developing cutting-edge research techniques and tools to accelerate and improve current SLC research. As a part of RESOLUTE, we...

Membrane proteins have long been targets for researchers and pharmaceutical industries alike. Of these, the solute carriers (SLCs) are a family of over 400 secondary transporter genes encoded within the human genome1. These transporters are involved in the import and export of numerous molecules, including ions2, neurotransmitters3, lipids4,5,6,7, amino acids8, nutrients9,10,11, and pharmaceuticals12. With such a breadth of substrates, these proteins are also implicated in a range of pathophysiologies through the transport of toxins13, transport of and inhibition by drugs of abuse14,15, or deleterious mutations16. Bacterial homologs have served as prototypes for the fundamental transport mechanism of several SLC families17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25. In contrast to human proteins, prokaryotic orthologs are often better expressed in the well-understood Escherichia coli expression system26,27 and are more stable in the smaller detergents which yield well-ordered crystals for X-ray crystallography28. However, sequence and functional differences complicate the use of these distantly-related proteins for drug discovery29,30. Consequently, direct study of the human protein is often needed to decipher the mechanism of action of drugs targeting SLCs31,32,33,34,35. While the recent advances in Cryo-electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM) have enabled structural characterization of SLCs in more native-like conditions36,37, difficulty in expressing and purifying these proteins remains a challenge for developing targeted therapeutics and diagnostics.
To alleviate this challenge, the RESOLUTE consortium (re-solute.eu) has developed resources and protocols for the large-scale expression and purification of human SLC-family proteins38. Starting with codon-optimized genes, we have developed methods for the high-throughput cloning and screening of SLC constructs. These methods were systematically applied to the whole family of SLCs, the genes were cloned into the BacMam viral expression system, and the protein expression was tested in human cell lines39 based on previously described methods for high-throughput cloning and expression testing40. In summary, the SLC gene is cloned from the pDONR221 plasmid into a pHTBV1.1 vector. This construct is subsequently used to transpose the gene of interest into a bacmid vector for transfecting insect cells, which includes a cytomegalovirus promoter and enhancer elements for expression in mammalian cells. The resulting baculovirus can be used to transduce mammalian cells for the expression of the target SLC protein.
We further developed standardized methods for large-scale expression and stable purification of selected SLCs (Figure 1). This protocol includes multiple checkpoints to facilitate effective troubleshooting and minimize variability between experiments. Notably, routine monitoring of protein expression and localization, as well as small-scale optimization of purification conditions for individual targets, were aided by Strep and Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) tags41,42.
Ultimately, these chemically pure and structurally homogeneous protein samples can be used for structural determination by X-ray crystallography or Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM), biochemical target-engagement assays, immunization for binder generation, and cell-free functional studies via reconstitution into chemically defined liposomes.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>3C protease</td>
			<td>Produced in-house</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50 or 100 kDa cut-off centrifugal concentrators</td>
			<td>Sartorius</td>
			<td>VS0242</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5-Cyclohexyl-1-Pentyl-&#946;-D-Maltoside</td>
			<td>Anatrace</td>
			<td>C325</td>
			<td>CYMAL-5</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>96-well bacmid purification kit</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>LSKP09604</td>
			<td>Montage Plasmid Miniprep</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>96-well block (2 mL)</td>
			<td>Greiner Bio-One</td>
			<td>780271</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Adhesive plastic seals</td>
			<td>Qiagen</td>
			<td>19570</td>
			<td>Tape Pads</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Agarose size exclusion chromatography column</td>
			<td>Cytiva</td>
			<td>29091596</td>
			<td>Superose 6 Increase 10/300 GL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Benzonase DNAse</td>
			<td>Produced in-house</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BisTris</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>B9754</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cholesteryl Hemisuccinate Tris salt</td>
			<td>Anatrace</td>
			<td>CH210</td>
			<td>CHS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cobalt metal affinity resin</td>
			<td>Takara Bio</td>
			<td>635653</td>
			<td>TALON Metal Affinity Resin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>D(+)-Biotin</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>851209</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dextran-agarose size exclusion chromatography column</td>
			<td>Cytiva</td>
			<td>28990944</td>
			<td>Superdex 200 Increase 10/300 GL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Digitonin</td>
			<td>Apollo Scientific</td>
			<td>BID3301</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dounce tissue grinder (40 mL)</td>
			<td>DWK Life Sciences</td>
			<td>357546</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EDTA-free protease inhibitor cocktail</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>4693132001</td>
			<td>cOmplete, EDTA-free Protease Inhibitor Cocktail</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal Bovine Serum</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>10500064</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fos-Choline-12</td>
			<td>Anatrace</td>
			<td>F308S</td>
			<td>FS-12</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glycerol</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>G5516</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glyco-diosgenin</td>
			<td>Anatrace</td>
			<td>GDN101</td>
			<td>GDN</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gravity flow columns</td>
			<td>Cole-Parmer</td>
			<td>WZ-06479-25</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEK293 medium</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>12338018</td>
			<td>FreeStyle 293 medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES</td>
			<td>Apollo Scientific</td>
			<td>BI8181</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrophilic, neutral silica UHPLC column</td>
			<td>Sepax</td>
			<td>231300-4615</td>
			<td>Unix-C SEC-300 4.6 x 150</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Imidazole</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>56750</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Insect transfection reagent</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>71259</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lauryl Maltose Neopentyl Glycol</td>
			<td>Anatrace</td>
			<td>NG310</td>
			<td>LMNG</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>M2670</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micro-expression shaker</td>
			<td>Glas-Col</td>
			<td>107A DPMINC24CE</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>S9888</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>n-Decyl-&#946;-D-Maltoside</td>
			<td>Anatrace</td>
			<td>D322</td>
			<td>DM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>n-Dodecyl-b-D-Maltopyranoside</td>
			<td>Anatrace</td>
			<td>D310</td>
			<td>DDM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>n-Dodecyl-N,N-Dimethylamine-N-Oxide</td>
			<td>Anatrace</td>
			<td>D360</td>
			<td>LDAO</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>n-Nonyl-&#946;-D-Glucopyranoside</td>
			<td>Anatrace</td>
			<td>N324S</td>
			<td>NG</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>n-Octyl-d17-&#946;-D-Glucopyranoside</td>
			<td>Anatrace</td>
			<td>O311D</td>
			<td>OGNG</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Octaethylene Glycol Monododecyl 
			Ether</td>
			<td>Anatrace</td>
			<td>O330</td>
			<td>C12E8</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Octyl Glucose Neopentyl Glycol</td>
			<td>Anatrace</td>
			<td>NG311</td>
			<td>OGNG</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate Buffered Saline</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>D8537</td>
			<td>DPBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polyoxyethylene(10)dodecyl Ether</td>
			<td>Anatrace</td>
			<td>AP1210</td>
			<td>C12E10</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polyoxyethylene(9)dodecyl Ether</td>
			<td>Anatrace</td>
			<td>APO129</td>
			<td>C12E9</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Porous seal for tissue culture plates</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>60941-084</td>
			<td>Rayon Films for Biological Cultures</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Proteinase K</td>
			<td>New England Biolabs</td>
			<td>P8107S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Recombination enzyme mix</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>11791020</td>
			<td>Gateway LR Clonase II</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Serum-free insect media</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>10902088</td>
			<td>Sf-900 II serum-free media</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Butyrate</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>303410</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sonicator 24-head probe</td>
			<td>Sonics</td>
			<td>630-0579</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sonicator power unit</td>
			<td>Sonics</td>
			<td>VCX 750</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Strep-Tactin resin</td>
			<td>IBA Life Sciences</td>
			<td>2-5030-025</td>
			<td>Strep-TactinXT 4Flow high- capacity resin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sucrose</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>S7903</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sucrose Monododecanoate</td>
			<td>Anatrace</td>
			<td>S350</td>
			<td>DDS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Suspension-adapted HEK293 cells</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>A14527</td>
			<td>Expi293F</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Transfection reagent</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>70967</td>
			<td>GeneJuice Transfection Reagent</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

high-throughput expression and purification of human solute carriers for structural and biochemical studies

Solute carriers (SLCs) are membrane transporters that import and export a range of endogenous and exogenous substrates, including ions, nutrients, metabolites, neurotransmitters, and pharmaceuticals. Despite having emerged as attractive therapeutic targets and markers of disease, this group of proteins is still relatively underdrugged by current pharmaceuticals. Drug discovery projects for these transporters are impeded by limited structural, functional, and physiological knowledge, ultimately due to the difficulties in the expression and purification of this class of membrane-embedded proteins. Here, we demonstrate methods to obtain high-purity, milligram quantities of human SLC transporter proteins using&#160;codon-optimized gene sequences. In conjunction with a systematic exploration of construct design and high-throughput expression, these protocols ensure the preservation of the structural integrity and biochemical activity of the target proteins. We also highlight critical steps in the eukaryotic cell expression, affinity purification, and size-exclusion chromatography of these proteins. Ultimately, this workflow yields pure, functionally active, and stable protein preparations suitable for high-resolution structure determination, transport studies, small-molecule engagement assays, and high-throughput in vitro screening.

Author Spotlight: Expression and Purification of Human Solute Carrier Transporters Using Codon-Optimized Genes 

High-Throughput Expression and Purification of Human Solute Carriers for Structural and Biochemical Studies

SLC genes can be cloned from RESOLUTE pDONR plasmids into BacMam vectors for mammalian expression 
The described protocols for cloning, expression, and purification have proven successful for many SLC transporters across multiple protein folds. Nevertheless, the procedures include several checkpoints for monitoring progress, allowing for optimization to account for differences in expression, protein folding, lipid- and detergent-dependent stability, and sensitivity to buffer conditions.
<p class...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Expression and Purification of Human Solute Carrier Transporters Using Codon-Optimized Genes at JoVE.com

Structural and biochemical studies of human membrane transporters require milligram quantities of stable, intact, and homogeneous protein. Here we describe scalable methods to screen, express, and purify human solute carrier transporters using codon-optimized genes.

Solute carriers (SLCs) are membrane transporters that import and export a range of endogenous and exogenous substrates, including ions, nutrients, ...

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Biochemistry

2.2K Views.  University of Oxford. Structural and biochemical studies of human membrane transporters require milligram quantities of stable, intact, and homogeneous protein. Here we describe scalable methods to screen, express, and purify human solute carrier transporters using codon-optimized genes.