Dataset on recombinant expression of an ancient chitinase gene from different species of parasites in bacteria and in cells using baculovirus.

The data presented here is related to negative results obtained with the recombinant expression of chitinase from four species of parasites in two expression systems, performed in order to investigate the molecular characteristics of the chitinase and its possible application in leishmaniasis diagnosis. Thus, heterologous chitinase proteins were expressed in bacteria using the prokaryotic expression vector pET28a and Mach-T1, and in (Sf9) insect cells, using the eukaryotic expression system (Thermo Fisher Scientific) to produce recombinant baculoviruses to infect Sf9. Biochemical and cellular analysis of the various recombinant forms of the chitinase produced in prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems were performed through SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Chitinase produced and purified from bacteria presented low yield and formed inactive aggregates. Heterologous chitinase obtained after infection of Sf9 insect cells with all the four species recombinant baculoviruses presented high yield of insoluble proteins. Dot-blot serological tests presented inconclusive results against the recombinant sp chitinases produced in both expression systems. The experiments described in this paper can help researchers to avoid errors when choosing a recombinant expression systems to produce parasites proteins for biotechnological purposes.