Time to consider ruling out inclusion bodies denaturing protocols for spontaneous solubilization of biologically active proteins

Abstract

The formation of inclusion bodies (IBs) in microbial cell factories is a very common process occurring during recombinant protein production. Different protocols have been developed for the extraction of soluble proteins from IBs using several strategies, ranging from the use of harsh denaturing and high concentrations of chaotropic agents and reducing agents to the use of mild protocols based on the use of non-denaturing detergents. However, in recent years, the biological vision of IBs has changed and research studies have demonstrated that these protein aggregates contain biologically active and properly folded recombinant proteins. This drives us to redefine the methodologies currently used to obtain soluble protein using IB as a protein source. Hence, we propose the extraction of IB protein via the simple spontaneous solubilization of IB as a strategy broadly applicable to all kinds of recombinant proteins without the negative effects of detergents and chaotropic agents on final biological activity. We prove the wide applicability of spontaneous solubilization processes to different types of IBs and that protocols can be easily customized for each protein in terms of timing and incubation temperature by monitoring the protein activity of the solubilized fraction.