title: Recombinant expression and purification of functional vascular endothelial growth factor-121 in the baculovirus expression system.
abstract: To express human vascular endothelial growth factor121 (VEGF121) in insect cells.
  
  
  
  A gene construct containing VEGF was cloned in the pFastBac-HTA vector, followed by transformation in DH10BAC. The recombinant bacmid was then extracted, and transfected into Sf9 insect cells. The transfected cells were harvested, and then VEGF expression was confirmed by western blotting using specific antibodies. The tube formation assay was used for functional assessment of VEGF.
  
  
  
  Our results showed that VEGF could be successfully expressed in the baculovirus system. Purified VEGF was able to stimulate in vitro tube formation of human endothelial cells.
  
  
  
  Results from this study demonstrated that the recombinantly-produced VEGF can be considered as a promising candidate for therapeutic purposes.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, Venom & Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nastaran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohseni
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jahanian-Najafabadi
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, Venom & Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kazemi-Lomedasht
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biotechnology and Molecular Science, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Science, Bojnurd, Iran.
authors.forename: Roghaye
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arezomand
authors.affiliation: National Cell Bank of Iran, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habibi-Anbouhi
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, Venom & Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Delavar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shahbazzadeh
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, Venom & Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Behdani73042@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behdani
keywords: Baculovirus expression system; Recombinant bacmid; Vascular endothelial growth factor