Efficient production of anti-fluorescein and anti-lysozyme as single-chain anti-body fragments (scFv) by Brevibacillus expression system

Expression of scFv in Brevibacillus choshinensis was tested using combinations of three different promoters and four different secretion signals. Two model scFv constructs, i.e., His-scFvFLU and His-scFvHEL, were successfully expressed with some of the combinations. Ni Sepharose column and size exclusion chromatography resulted in fairly pure preparations of these two proteins. The purified His-scFvFLU inhibited fluorescence from fluorescein, while the purified His-scFvHEL inhibited lysozyme activity. Relatively high yield of His-scFvFLU (∼40%) and His-scFvHEL (∼30%) was achieved with the expression and purification system described here.