Exceptional total and functional yields of the human adenosine (A2a) receptor expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Protein Expr Purif. 2006 Apr;46(2):204-11. doi: 10.1016/j.pep.2005.09.020. Epub 2005 Oct 24.

Abstract

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used to express a medically relevant G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), the human adenosine (A2a) receptor, with a C-terminal green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion tag. In prior studies, we established an expression system for A2a-GFP. Here, we quantified the total A2a-GFP expression levels by correlating GFP levels as detected by fluorescence and densitometry to A2a-GFP molecules overexpressed in the system. We also quantified A2a-GFP functional levels by classical radioligand binding assays. Approximately, 120,000 functional A2a-GFP molecules per cell were present on the plasma membrane as determined by radioligand binding. Using whole cell GFP fluorescence, 340,000 A2a-GFP molecules per cell were detected; approximately 70% of those molecules were plasma membrane localized, as determined by using confocal microscopy analysis. These results show that a significant portion of the total expressed protein is functional. In addition, the quick and inexpensive whole cell fluorescence appears to provide a good approximation of functional receptor numbers for this case. Importantly, the amount of functionally expressed A2a-GFP per culture ( approximately 4 mg/L) is among the highest reported for any GPCR in any expression system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A / biosynthesis*
  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / growth & development*

Substances

  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins