Expression of human activin C protein in insect larvae infected with a recombinant baculovirus.
In order to generate dimeric recombinant transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) proteins, expensive eucaryotic cell systems, such as CHO cells, are usually used. An alternative represents the expression of such proteins in insects using a baculovirus expression system. In this study, recombinant human activin C protein was expressed in Noctuidae larvae. On SDS-PAGE, the expressed protein has a size of about 15 kD under reducing conditions and of about 20 kD under non-reducing conditions. This suggests that activin C is expressed as a dimer and disulfide bridges can be formed. Compared with expression in eucaryotic cell culture systems, expression in insect larvae presents a rapid and low cost method, without the need for expensive tissue culture scale-ups or special equipment.
Kron
R
R
Biopharm GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany.
Schneider
C
C
Hötten
G
G
Bechtold
R
R
Pohl
J
J
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae; D012831:Bombyx; D002460:Cell Line; D015870:Gene Expression; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007814:Larva; D018402:Manduca; D051379:Mice; D009036:Moths; D018411:Spodoptera
D007265:Inhibins