Multidrug transporter MexB of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: overexpression, purification, and initial structural characterization

Structural and functional characterization of the multidrug transporter, MexB, of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is significantly restricted due to a low yield of approximately 0.1 mg/L of culture from natural sources. To facilitate structural studies of this medically important transporter protein, we developed a large-scale system for expression of the genetically engineered recombinant, MexB, in the Escherichia coli cell. Using the system, the eventual yield of MexB attained was about 10 mg/L of culture. The optimized purification protocol in the presence of dodecyl β-d-maltoside allowed isolation of highly homogeneous MexB. The oligomeric state of the protein in detergent solution has been characterized to verify that the native state of the purified protein has been preserved. The molecular mass of the protein-detergent complex was found to be 380-450 kDa. The MexB-dodecyl β-d-maltoside mass ratio was determined to be 1.8 ± 0.05. Taking into account the monomeric MexB molecular mass deduced from its amino acid sequence (112.8 kDa), we concluded that the purified MexB exists as the homotrimer in the surfactant solution. Circular dichroism analysis of MexB showed dominance of the α-helix structures. High yield, homogeneity, and stability of MexB position it as a good candidate for structural and functional characterization.