Analysis and modification of protein glycosylation in an insect cell expression system

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H04612
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Insect science
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: LEE JAEMAN 九州大学, 農学研究院, 准教授 (50404083)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 糖鎖修飾 / バキュロウイルス発現系 / N型糖鎖 / O型糖鎖

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Insect cell expression systems are known as excellent systems for secreted protein production with glycosylation modification, although the structure of the sugar chains is different from that of mammalian-derived cells. In the field of drug discovery, there is a need for humanization of protein sugar chains expressed in insect cells. There are two types of sugar chain modification, N-type and O-type, in sugar chain modification. As for the N-type sugar chain, insect cell lines introduced several human-derived glycosyltransferases had been was established, and partially succeeded in humanizing the recombinant glycoprotein expressed by the baculovirus expression system. In addition, we identified genes involved in the first and second reactions of the O-type sugar chain modification of insect cells, for which there was almost no knowledge so far, and clarified their properties.

Free Research Field

昆虫分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

タンパク質糖鎖の役割については、未解明の部分も多いが、一部は、タンパク質の構造や安定性、生理活性などに重要な役割を果たしていることが報告されている。優れた難分泌性糖タンパク質発現系である昆虫細胞発現系で糖鎖修飾機構の理解が深まり、これを制御できるようになれば、糖鎖の生物学的機能における基礎研究を強力に推進できる上、これまで必要十分な活性を有する組換えタンパク質が生産できないだけの理由で医薬品化されていない難分泌性糖タンパク質の産業利用が可能となる。また、人工糖鎖の付加により、天然型タンパク質を越える活性を有するスーパータンパク質の生産につながる可能性を秘めている。