[Prokaryotic expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C cDNA which cloned from a patient with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of tongue can encode a functional protein or not.


METHODS
RT-PCR was employed to clone the functional VEGF-C fragment from the surgical specimen of a lingual SCC patient. Then it was subcloned into expressive plasmid vector pBKCMV, which was transfected into E. coli to examine its expression.


RESULTS
A truncated human VEGF-C cDNA fragment was amplified from the lingual SCC. The sequencing results of the fragment demonstrated that it had 99.6% similarity with the reported human VEGF-C cDNA (representing the 559-1611 bp according the sequence of Genbank Entry X94216). Induced with IPTG, the E. coli XLI-Blue MRF' containing the recombinant pBK-VEGF-C expressed a 56,000 fusion protein, which can be recognized by polyclonic anti-human VEGF-C antibody.


CONCLUSIONS
A functional fragment VEGF-C cDNA was cloned from a lingual SCC. It will promote more intensive research on the function of VEGF-C and its relationship with metastasis of oral SCC.
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D011387:Prokaryotic Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
D018076:DNA, Complementary; C467486:VEGFC protein, human; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C