title: Expression, purification and characterization of a vascular endothelial growth factor fusion protein.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prepare recombinant tPep-(vascular endothelial growth factor) VEGF-B and assess its biological activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This new VEGF fusion protein was constructed using a targeting peptide and prepared using E.coli. The tPep-VEGF-B was refolded from inclusion bodies and purified using affinity chromatography. Its bioactivity was determined in vitro using proliferation assay and wounding healing assay, and in vivo in zebrafish. By using the optimized downstream process, recombinant tPep-VEGF-B can be obtained with a purity of >90 % and a yield of 80 mg protein/l culture medium. The refolded protein is highly effective in promoting cell migration in vitro and in enhancing angiogenesis in vivo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have constructed a new VEGF fusion protein with potential therapeutic application in treating metabolic diseases.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Tongjiaxiang 24, Nanjing, 210009, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Tongjiaxiang 24, Nanjing, 210009, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30605, USA.
authors.forename: Mingming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Tongjiaxiang 24, Nanjing, 210009, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Tongjiaxiang 24, Nanjing, 210009, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoda
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Tongjiaxiang 24, Nanjing, 210009, China.
authors.forename: Xiangdong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Tongjiaxiang 24, Nanjing, 210009, China. wbyao@cpu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Wenbing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
keywords: Angiogenesis; Expression and purification; Vascular endothelial growth factor B; Zebrafish