title: Production of active human interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme in a baculovirus expression system.
abstract: The cDNA coding for the precursor form of human interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme (proICE) was expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells using a baculovirus expression system. The 45-kDa recombinant protein was further processed to several smaller forms of 32, 24, 20, 13 and 10 kDa. Active recombinant ICE derived from the baculovirus expression system (bvICE) was found to be present in soluble lysates of insect cells as an associated heterodimer consisting of 10- and 20-kDa subunits. The activity of bvICE was determined by conversion of precursor interleukin-1 beta (preIL-1 beta) to the mature form (mIL-1 beta) and via site-specific cleavage of a decapeptide which spans the ICE cleavage site in preIL-1 beta. The bvICE system was inhibited by an ICE inhibitor to the same extent as native ICE from the monocytic cell line THP-1. Expression of an active-site mutant (Cys285 to Ser) of proICE in insect cells resulted in the accumulation of partially processed (32-kDa) ICE. The availability of a facile expression system will permit further characterization of the biochemical properties and processing pathway of this unique protease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Sterling Winthrop Inc., Collegeville, PA 19426-0900.
authors.forename: X M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Helaszek
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Lirette
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Ciccarelli
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Malinowski
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Huston
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D020170:Caspase 1; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D009036:Moths / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D020170:Caspase 1; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases