title: Expression of a synthetic gene encoding human insulin-like growth factor I in cultured mouse fibroblasts.
abstract: A synthetic gene encoding human insulin-like growth factor I (hIGF-I) was assembled and inserted into an expression vector containing the cytomegalovirus immediate early (CMV-IE) transcriptional regulatory region and portions of the bovine growth hormone gene. The recombinant plasmid encodes a 97 amino acid fusion protein containing the first 27 amino acids of the bovine growth hormone precursor and the 70 amino acids of hIGF-I. This plasmid, when transiently introduced into cultured mouse fibroblasts, directs synthesis of the fusion protein, subsequent proteolytic removal of the bovine growth hormone signal peptide, and secretion of hIGF-I into the culture medium. Conditioned medium from transfected cells inhibits binding of 125I-labeled IGF-I to type I IGF receptors on human placental membranes and to acid-stable human serum carrier proteins. The recombinant hIGF-I produced is biologically active, as monitored by the stimulation of DNA synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics; D004261:DNA Replication; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005796:Genes; D005813:Genes, Synthetic; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D017451:Receptors, Somatomedin; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017451:Receptors, Somatomedin; D013002:Somatomedins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D011972:Receptor, Insulin