A new vector coupling ligation-independent cloning with sortase a fusion for efficient cloning and one-step purification of tag-free recombinant proteins.

We have developed a new ligation independent cloning (LIC) vector – pSrtA9, which can be utilized for one-step purification of recombinant proteins. The new LIC site in the pSrtA9 vector, hosts a DNA sequence centered on a SfoI restriction site and integrates a coding sequence for sortase A (SrtA) recognition. Preceding the LIC site, pSrtA9 incorporates an N-terminal 6xHis-tag and the catalytic core of SrtA from Staphylococcus aureus (SrtAΔ59). Thus, after cloning and protein expression in Escherichia coli, the resultant fusion protein comprises an N-terminal 6xHis-tag, SrtAΔ59, an L-P-E-T-G linker and the protein of interest at the C-terminus. The fusion protein can be captured onto immobilized Ni-NTA resin and any unwanted proteolysis activity of SrtA is suppressed during the purification by optimisation of solution conditions. Upon addition of Ca2+ and triglycine (Gly3), the immobilized fusion protein undergoes on-column SrtA-mediated cleavage at the T-G bond of LPETG linker to selectively release 90% of the protein of interest within 3 h when incubated at room temperature. This new pSrtA9 vector, thus, offers an efficient method for LIC of genes and a one-step purification procedure to obtain a tag-free recombinant protein, and is therefore suitable for the high-throughput proteins production.