重组人EGF-IL-18融合蛋白的表达纯化及复性

融合基因EGF-IL-18与表达载体pET32a( )连接构建融合型原核表达质粒pET32a( )-EGF-IL-18。该基因在E.coliRosetta(DE3)中获得高效表达,SDS-PAGE分析表明表达产物大部分以包涵体形式存在。以2mol/L尿素和1%TritonX-100对包涵体进行反复洗涤后,利用离子交换柱层析对包涵体进行柱上复性,结果表明离子交换层析柱上复性不仅能够获得可溶性的EGF-IL-18融合蛋白,而且产物同时得到纯化,纯度大于90%。复性的EGF-IL-18经分子筛进一步纯化后,体外实验证明具有促进人外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)IFN-g基因表达的能力。该方法简单、高效,为进一步开展EGF-IL-18的动物实验及其大量纯化制备打下基础。     

重组IL-18BP拮抗重组鸡IL-18刺激外周血单核细胞产生IFN-γ的作用

【目的】白细胞介素-18通过激活Th1细胞和NK细胞产生IFN-γ而发挥关键的免疫调节作用。人和小鼠分泌的白细胞介素-18结合蛋白(IL-18BP)可以拮抗其活性。推测在鸡痘病毒基因组中也含有IL-18BP基因的同源物,对其表达的蛋白质进行了活性鉴定,为拮抗IL-18主导的疾病提供理论依据。【方法】根据鸡痘疫苗病毒的基因组序列设计特异性引物,使用PCR方法从中分离cIL-18BP基因,将该基因克隆到酵母表达载体pPICZαA中,甲醇诱导后在酵母GS115中进行表达。对表达的重组蛋白进行了活性鉴定。【结果】从鸡痘病毒中克隆到cIL-18BP基因,SDS-PAGE鉴定了该基因在酵母系统中的高效表达。ELISA检测表明纯化后的cIL-18BP与重组鸡(c)IL-18发生特异性结合;通过测定IFN-γ的浓度,表明该蛋白具有拮抗IL-18刺激外周血单核细胞(PBMCs)和MSB1细胞分泌IFN-γ的活性。【结论】实验表明,cIL-18BP通过抑制cIL-18刺激相关免疫细胞分泌IFN-γ而发挥对IL-18的拮抗作用,敲除该基因可能有助于研制更安全和高效的鸡痘疫苗。     

金黄色葡萄球菌类肠毒素K与GFP融合蛋白工程菌的构建及其表达蛋白生物学活性分析

目的:构建携带金黄色葡萄球菌类肠毒素K(staphylococcal enterotoxin-like K,SElK)和绿色荧光蛋白(green fluorescent protein,GFP)融合基因的工程菌,并对SElK-GFP融合蛋白进行初步生物学活性分析。方法:利用PCR和Overlap PCR克隆获得SElK-GFP融合基因,并插入pET28a表达载体中,通过菌落PCR,质粒双酶切及测序验证后,将构建成功的pET28a-SElK-GFP质粒转化到E. coli BL21菌株中进行诱导表达,通过Ni+亲和磁珠试剂盒纯化获得SElK-GFP融合蛋白;并利用MTT法检测SElK-GFP刺激小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖; ELISA法检测SElK-GFP尾静脉注射后小鼠血清中细胞因子IL-2和IFN-γ的分泌水平。结果:成功构建能够表达SElK-GFP融合蛋白的工程菌,纯化获得高纯度的SElK-GFP融合蛋白可观测到明显的绿色荧光,融合蛋白生物学活性分析表明,SElK-GFP能够呈剂量依赖性地显著刺激小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖;同时ELISA检测发现SElK-GFP可显著增加小鼠血清中细胞因子IL-2及IFN-γ的分泌水平。结论:成功克隆、表达及纯化获得高纯度的SElK-GFP融合蛋白,其不仅保留了SElK的超抗原活性,同时兼具GFP绿色荧光的可视性,为深入研究SElK生物学活性提供有利工具。     

人表皮生长因子受体结构域蛋白的原核表达、纯化及活性检测

目的:构建人表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)胞外结构域(ED)和胞内激酶结构域(PKD)的原核表达载体,获得纯化的GST-EGFR-ED和GST-EGFR-PKD融合蛋白,并检测其活性。方法:用PCR方法从乳腺文库中扩增EGFR的ED和PKD基因编码序列,将其正确插入p GEX-KG载体,重组质粒转化大肠杆菌Rossate表达后,用GST-Sepharose4B珠子纯化融合蛋白。结果:构建得到GST-EGFR-ED和GST-EGFR-PKD的原核表达载体,双酶切鉴定得到与预期片段大小相符的外源基因插入片段,经测序与目的序列完全一致;在Rossate菌中诱导表达出与预期位置相符的目的蛋白,经Western印迹检测,融合蛋白成功表达;纯化得到融合蛋白GST-EGFR-ED和GST-EGFR-PKD。结论:克隆了GST-EGFR-ED和GST-EGFR-PKD基因,并获得了活性良好的GST-EGFR-ED和GST-EGF-PKD融合蛋白,为研究EGFR在肿瘤中的作用奠定了实验基础。     

重组人IL-18-EGF的双顺反子表达及其对NK细胞和肝癌细胞的影响

构建重组人IL-18-EGF肿瘤靶向分子双顺反子原核表达系统,研究重组人IL-18-EGF融合蛋白对人自然杀伤细胞（natural killer cell,NK细胞）和人肝癌细胞（SMMC-7721）的影响。构建重组人IL-18-EGF原核双顺反子表达系统pET28a（＋）-proIL-18-EGF-Caspase-4/BL21,重组蛋白经纯化后,作用于NK细胞,应用CCK-8法和ELISA试剂盒分别检测NK细胞的增殖情况和IFN-γ的分泌量。Cy3荧光标记IL-18-EGF检测融合蛋白与肿瘤细胞表面EGFR的结合情况。IL-18-EGF与NK细胞共同孵育24 h后,取培养上清液作用于人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721,分别使用细胞划痕实验和Transwell小室实验检测IL-18-EGF对肝癌细胞迁移和侵袭能力的影响。实验结果显示：重组人IL-18-EGF能加快NK细胞的增殖,促进NK细胞分泌IFN-γ;IL-18-EGF能与肿瘤细胞表面EGFR特异性结合;细胞划痕实验中,重组人IL-18-EGF组空白区域的抗填充能力高于对照组;Transwell小室实验中,12,24,48 h时IL-18-EGF组细胞穿膜数分别为94.6±2.9、101.8±4.0和116.2±4.5,均显著低于相应时间的对照组（分别为128.6±8.5、133.0±7.5和138.8±5.4）（P〈0.05）。以上结果表明,IL-18-EGF对人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721的迁移和侵袭能力有明显的抑制作用,能提高机体的免疫能力,有可能作为辅助药物运用于肝癌的治疗。     

人IL-24基因原核表达载体的构建及蛋白的表达纯化

构建人白细胞介素24(IL-24)原核表达载体并利用ELP-Intein系统表达纯化可溶性的IL-24蛋白。通过PCR扩增不含信号肽的人IL-24基因,将IL-24基因插入p ET-ELP-Intein质粒构建重组表达载体p ET-ELP-Intein-IL-24。将重组质粒转化至E.coliBLR(DE3),20℃下经IPTG诱导表达。利用ELP蛋白在不同温度下发生相变的特点和Intein蛋白的自切割反应纯化可溶性IL-24蛋白,将纯化得到的IL-24蛋白进行Western blot鉴定。用Annexin V-FITC/PI细胞凋亡检测试剂盒检测IL-24蛋白的生物学活性。成功构建了重组表达载体p ET-ELP-Intein-IL-24,第一次通过原核表达方法表达并纯化出了可溶性的IL-24蛋白。Western blot检测显示目的蛋白能与IL-24抗体特异性结合,表明纯化出的蛋白确实为IL-24蛋白。细胞凋亡检测实验证明IL-24蛋白能显著地诱导hep G2细胞发生凋亡。     

vMIP-II-TfN融合蛋白在毕赤酵母中的表达和纯化

目的:构建pPIC-vMIP-II-TfN酵母表达载体,表达纯化vMIP-II-TfN融合蛋白。方法:利用PCR方法扩增编码人转铁蛋白N端半分子的基因片段,通过酶切、连接、转化等分子克隆方法构建pPIC-vMIP-II-TfN酵母表达载体;电击法转化X33酵母菌;用甲醇诱导重组酵母菌表达融合蛋白,利用硫酸铵沉淀、透析、Ni-NTA层析等技术进行蛋白纯化,SDS-PAGE和Western blot检测蛋白表达和纯化情况,利用趋化实验进行纯化蛋白活性检测。结果:经过两次PCR扩增了一个长约1.1kb的包含Xba I酶切位点的IgG3-TfN基因片段,插入pPIC-vMIP-II的Xba I酶切位点,经菌液PCR鉴定获得重组子,测序结果表明构建载体pPIC-vMIP-II-TfN的表达框正确无误,转化X33酵母菌,用甲醇诱导表达出48kDa的vMIP-II-TfN融合蛋白,经硫酸铵沉淀、透析、Ni-NTA纯化后得到纯度约为95%的vMIP-II-TfN融合蛋白。Western印迹结果表明融合蛋白能与转铁蛋白抗体特异性结合。活性检测表明经过诱导表达的vMIP-II-TfN融合蛋白具有趋化抑制活性。结论:成功构建pPIC-vMIP-II-TfN酵母表达载体,重组酵母工程菌经甲醇诱导成功表达出vMIP-II-TfN融合蛋白,纯化后的vMIP-II-TfN融合蛋白具有趋化抑制活性。     

冠状病毒HCoV-229E S1蛋白片段的免疫原性分析

目的表达和纯化HCoV-229E的S1蛋白片段（S1 417-547）,分析其诱导的免疫应答。方法将纯化蛋白免疫小鼠,ELISA检测小鼠血清特异性抗体以及血清IL-4和IFN-γ含量,流式细胞术检测小鼠脾脏T淋巴细胞亚群分布,观察其诱导的免疫应答。结果表达蛋白经金属螯合获得纯化,并诱导小鼠产生了高滴度的抗体。脾脏CD4^＋和CD8^＋比例均升高,CD4^＋/CD8^＋比值下降;免疫鼠血清IFN-γ和IL-4水平显著升高。结论成功构建了HCoV-229E S1蛋白的表达载体,并在BL21（DE3）中得到了高效表达,表达蛋白免疫小鼠后诱导了明显的细胞和体液免疫应答。     

CHO细胞表达重组猪干扰素-γ及其抗病毒活性

为利用中国仓鼠卵巢(Chinese hamster ovarian,CHO)细胞表达系统制备重组猪干扰素-γ(recombinant porcine interferon gamma,r Po IFN-γ),并分析其体外抗病毒活性,本研究首先构建r Po IFN-γ真核表达质粒pc DNA3.1-Po IFN-γ,转染悬浮培养的CHO细胞,进行上清分泌表达,利用亲和层析纯化目的蛋白,并进行SDS-PAGE和Western blotting鉴定;通过CCK-8实验分析r Po IFN-γ对细胞的毒性,用VSV/PK-15系统检测其抗病毒活性效价;最后分析r Po IFN-γ对塞内卡病毒A (Seneca virus A,SVA)的抗病毒活性及其对细胞内干扰素刺激基因(interferon-stimulated genes,ISGs)和细胞因子的诱导作用。结果显示,本研究利用CHO悬浮细胞表达系统成功制备了纯化的r Po IFN-γ,该r Po IFN-γ对细胞无毒性,VSV/PK-15系统检测其活性效价为5.59×107 U/mg;此外,r Po IFN-γ可诱导细胞内多种ISGs和细胞...     

猪FcγRⅢ的原核表达及多克隆抗体的制备

目的:构建猪FcγRIII基因的原核表达载体,诱导表达重组蛋白,制备鼠抗猪FcγRIII抗血清。方法:从质粒pTG19-T-FcγRIII中用PCR方法克隆到编码完整猪FcγRIII蛋白分子的基因片段,将其插入到原核表达载体pET-32a中,构建了猪FcγRIII原核表达载体pET-FcγRIII,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),IPTG诱导蛋白表达,经尿素洗涤纯化后,以纯化后的融合蛋白FcγRIII-His为抗原免疫小鼠,获得抗血清。Western blotting、ELISA法鉴定获得的抗血清,ELISA结果显示抗体效价为1∶16000,具有高度特异性,免疫印迹结果显示制备的多抗可以与重组猪FcγRIII蛋白特异性结合。结果:成功构建猪FcγRIII原核表达载体,纯化到融合蛋白FcγRIII-His,用纯化的融合蛋白免疫小鼠制备了多克隆抗体,Western blotting、ELISA法证实多克隆抗体制备成功。结论:成功获得了猪FcγRIII多克隆抗体,为进一步研究猪FcγRIII蛋白的功能奠定了基础。     

Rational design of an EGF-IL18 fusion protein: implication for developing tumor therapeutics

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine. This protein has a role in regulating immune responses and exhibits significant anti-tumor activities. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is an important growth factor that plays a central role in the regulation of cell cycle and differentiation. It was proposed that a targeted delivery of IL-18 by generation of IL-18-EGF fusion protein might decrease adverse effects and result in enhancing cytotoxic and antitumor activities. In the present study, a fusion protein, consisting of EGFR binding domain fused to human IL-18 mature peptide via a linker peptide of (Gly(4)Ser) 3, was constructed and expressed in the insect cell line Sf9 using Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression system. We showed that the purified recombinant fusion protein induced similar levels of IFN-gamma to that of native IL-18 protein in human PBMC in the presence of ConA. Furthermore, EGF receptor competitive test in human epithelial cancer A431 cell line showed that EGF-IL18 fusion protein can specifically bind with EGFR by competing with native EGF protein. These suggest that this rationally designed protein can be further developed as novel tumor therapeutics.     

IL-8 promotes cell proliferation and migration through metalloproteinase-cleavage proHB-EGF in human colon carcinoma cells

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) has been reported to promote tumor cell growth in colon cancer cells after binding to its receptors, which are members of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) family. Recent studies demonstrated that stimulation of GPCR can induce shedding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) ligands via activation of a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM), with subsequent transactivation of the EGF receptor (EGFR). In this study, we investigated mechanisms of cell proliferation and migration stimulated by IL-8 in a human colon carcinoma cell line (Caco2). IL-8 increased DNA synthesis of Caco2 in a dose dependent manner and this was inhibited by ADAM, EGFR kinase, and MEK inhibitors. IL-8 transiently induced EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation after 5-90 min and this was completely inhibited by ADAM inhibitor. Neutralizing antibody against HB-EGF as a key ligand for EGFR also blocked transactivation of EGFR and cell proliferation by IL-8. Since IL-8-induced cell migration was further suppressed by the ADAM inhibitor and the HB-EGF neutralizing antibody, our data indicate that IL-8 induces cell proliferation and migration by an ADAM-dependent pathway, and that HB-EGF plays an important role as the major ligand for this pathway.     

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces apoptosis in a transfected cell line expressing EGF receptor on its membrane

Interaction between epidermal growth factor (EGF) and EGF receptor (EGFR) promotes cell growth in most cell lines, but in a number of cell lines, EGF paradoxically inhibits proliferation. In the present study, we established a cell line expressing full-length human EGFR on membrane with a GFP fluorescence reporter at the C-terminal and studied the effects of EGF on cell proliferation in the transfected cell line. Our results suggested that low concentrations of EGF promoted proliferation, while high concentrations of EGF induced loss of adhesion, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and inhibition of proliferation. The effects of EGF on cell proliferation correlated well with the expression levels of EGFR. High concentrations of EGF induced both EGFR expression and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Our study reported, for the first time, a relationship between the effects of EGF on cell proliferation and levels of EGFR expression in one cell line expressing different levels of EGFR caused by different concentrations of EGF treatment. The study should provide considerable insight into the effects of EGF on cell proliferation and tumor cell metastasis.     

Expression of several growth factors and their receptor genes in human colon carcinomas

We have examined the expression of mRNAs for epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), EGF receptor (EGFR), PDGF-A chain (PDGFA), PDGF-B chain (PDGFB) and PDGF receptor (PDGFR) genes in seven human colorectal carcinoma cell lines and 18 human colorectal carcinomas. In surgically resected specimens of the 18 colorectal tumors, TGF-alpha, EGFR, PDGFA, PDGFB and PDGFR mRNAs were detected at various levels in 15 (83%), 9 (50%), 18 (100%), 8 (44%) and 12 (67%), respectively. They were also detected in normal tissues. Interestingly, EGF mRNA was detected in only five (28%) of the tumors, but not in normal mucosa. Expression of EGF was also confirmed immunohistochemically in tumor cells. Of the five tumors expressing EGF, four expressed EGFR mRNA and showed a tendency to invade veins and lymphatics. All the colorectal carcinoma cell lines expressed TGF-alpha mRNA, and five cell lines expressed EGFR mRNA simultaneously. Production of TGF-alpha protein by DLD-1 and CoLo320DM cells was confirmed by TGF-alpha specific monoclonal antibody binding assay. The spontaneous 3H-thymidine uptake by DLD-1 was suppressed by an anti-TGF-alpha monoclonal antibody. PDGFA and PDGFB mRNA were also expressed in four cell lines, but PDGFR and EGF mRNA was not detected. These results suggest that human colorectal carcinomas express multi-loops of growth factors and that TGF-alpha produced by tumor cells functions as an autocrine growth factor in human colonic carcinoma.     

嵌合表皮生长因子疫苗E5T-mSEA的设计及抑瘤活性检测

表皮生长因子受体(Epidermal growth factor receptor,EGFR)及其配体在多种肿瘤细胞中高表达,免疫注射表皮生长因子(Epidermal growth factor,EGF)-载体蛋白所产生的抗体能够干扰EGFR与EGF的相互作用,进而抑制肿瘤生长。本实验室设计了EGF和TGFα的嵌合配体E5T,并将具有免疫增强作用的葡萄球菌肠毒素A(Staphylococcal enterotoxin A,SEA)与之融合。融合蛋白在大肠杆菌内表达后,通过金属螯合亲和层析,得到了纯度较高的E5T-mSEA融合蛋白。将E5T-mSEA免疫小鼠,能够产生高滴度的抗体,该抗体能够同时识别EGF和TGFα。将抗E5T-mSEA免疫血清与肿瘤细胞共培养,在1:10的稀释度下能显著抑制EGFR阳性肿瘤细胞的生长,而对EGFR阴性肿瘤细胞293T的生长没有明显影响。     

Cross-talk between epidermal growth factor receptor and c-Met signal pathways in transformed cells

In rat liver epithelial cells constitutively expressing transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha), c-Met is constitutively phosphorylated in the absence of its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor. We proposed that TGFalpha and the autocrine activation of its receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), leads to phosphorylation and activation of c-Met. We found that there is constitutive c-Met phosphorylation in human hepatoma cell lines and the human epidermoid carcinoma cell line, A431 which express TGFalpha, but not in normal human hepatocytes. Constitutive c-Met phosphorylation in A431, HepG2, AKN-1, and HuH6 cells was inhibited by neutralizing antibodies against TGFalpha and/or EGFR. Exposure to exogenous TGFalpha or EGF increased the phosphorylation of c-Met in the human epidermoid carcinoma cell line, A431. The increase of c-Met phosphorylation by TGFalpha in A431 cells was inhibited by neutralizing antibodies against TGFalpha and/or EGFR and by the EGFR-specific inhibitor tyrphostin AG1478. These results indicate that constitutive c-Met phosphorylation, and the increase of c-Met phosphorylation by TGFalpha or EGF, in tumor cell lines is the result of the activation via EGFR. We found that c-Met in tumor cells co-immunoprecipitates with EGFR regardless of the existence of their ligands in tumor cells, but not in normal human hepatocytes. We conclude that c-Met associates with EGFR in tumor cells, and this association facilitates the phosphorylation of c-Met in the absence of hepatocyte growth factor. This cross-talk between c-Met and EGFR may have significant implications for altered growth control in tumorigenesis.     

Diphtheria toxin-epidermal growth factor fusion protein and Pseudomonas exotoxin-interleukin 13 fusion protein exert synergistic toxicity against human glioblastoma multiforme cells

The cytotoxicity of combinations of a diphtheria toxin-human epidermal growth factor fusion protein (DAB(389)EGF) and a Pseudomonas exotoxin-human interleukin 13 fusion protein (IL13PE38QQR) was tested against 14 human glioma cell lines. After cells were cultured for 48 h with various concentrations of the fusion proteins, the percentage reductions in thymidine incorporation were determined. Seven of fourteen cell lines were highly sensitive to DAB(389)EGF alone, and six cell lines were highly sensitive to IL13PE38QQR alone with IC(90)'s < 100 pM. When combined, synergistic cell killing was observed for seven of the cell lines based upon concave isobolograms and combination indices (CI's) of 0.2 to 0.7. Supraadditive cytotoxicity was confirmed by measurements of induction of apoptosis. Receptor expression was assessed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Marked heterogeneity of expression of EGFR and IL13Ralpha2 was seen on all the glioma cell lines. This heterogeneity may contribute to incomplete cell killing with the individual fusion proteins and synergistic cell kill with the combination. These results suggest that both fusion proteins may yield antitumor effects in patients with recurrent gliomas and that combination fusion protein intracranial therapy of malignant gliomas may yield an improved therapeutic index.     

Expression of several growth factors and their receptor genes in human colon carcinomas

We have examined the expression of mRNAs for epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α), EGF receptor (EGFR), PDGF-A chain (PDGFA), PDGF-B chain (PDGFB) and PDGF receptor (PDGFR) genes in seven human colorectal carcinoma cell lines and 18 human colorectal carcinomas. In surgically resected specimens of the 18 colorectal tumors, TGF-α, EGFR, PDGFA, PDGFB and PDGFR mRNAs were detected at various levels in 15 (83%), 9 (50%), 18 (100%), 8 (44%) and 12 (67%), respectively. They were also detected in normal tissues. Interestingly, EGF mRNA was detected in only five (28%) of the tumors, but not in normal mucosa. Expression of EGF was also confirmed immunohistochemically in tumor cells. Of the five tumors expressing EGF, four expressed EGFR mRNA and showed a tendency to invade veins and lymphatics. All the colorectal carcinoma cell lines expressed TGF-α mRNA, and five cell lines expressed EGFR mRNA simultaneously. Production of TGF-α protein by DLD-1 and CoLo320DM cells was confirmed by TGF-α specific monoclonal antibody binding assay. The spontaneous³H-thymidine uptake by DLD-1 was suppressed by an anti-TGF-α monoclonal antibody. PDGFA and PDGFB mRNA were also expressed in four cell lines, but PDGFR and EGF mRNA was not detected. These results suggest that human colorectal carcinomas express multi-loops of growth factors and that TGF-α produced by tumor cells functions as an autocrine growth factor in human colonic carcinoma.     

Atypical receptor-mediated signal transduction events in the EGF-dependent growth-inhibited cell line, MDA-468.

It is now generally considered that early signalling from tyrosine kinases that induce mitogenesis is initiated through the formation of heteromeric complexes consisting of the autophosphorylated tyrosine kinase and a number of tyrosylphosphorylated proteins, including phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-gamma) and GTPase activating protein (GAP). However, since much of this work has been performed on proliferative, chimeric cell lines expressing heterologous receptor molecules, we examined the nature of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signalling complex formation in the human breast cancer cell line, MDA-468. This cell line has an amplified, native EGFR gene, correspondingly overexpresses the EGFR, and its growth in culture is inversely related to the EGF concentration. Our results indicate that in MDA-468 cells, both the EGFR and PLC-gamma are phosphorylated on tyrosine residues and can be co-immunoprecipitated. This occurs at both high and low EGF concentrations regardless of the proliferative endpoint. The molecular association is correlated with a significant increase in total inositol phosphates formed in response to the growth factor treatment. In contrast, however, there is no evidence that GAP is either phosphorylated on tyrosine residues or forms a complex with the activated EGFR in EGF-treated MDA-468 cells. These observations suggest that as a model for growth factor action, the formation of heteromeric protein signalling complexes may demonstrate considerable diversity depending upon both cell type and physiology.     

Cloning and cytotoxicity of fusion proteins of EGF and angiogenin.

Targeted toxins represent a new approach to specific cytocidal therapy. Immunotoxins based on plant and microbial toxins are very immunogenic. To develop a targeted therapy that is less immunogenic and easily invades target tissues, four fusion proteins containing human angiogenin targeted by human EGF have been constructed. EGF is a single chain polypeptide, which binds to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and is known to be internalized by endocytosis. Angiogenin has been separately fused either at the amino terminus or the carboxyl terminus of EGF via linkers, giving rise to angiogenin-gly-EGF, angiogenin-(gly)4ser-EGF and EGF-angiogenin, EGF-gly-angiogenin, respectively. The fusion proteins were over-expressed in Escherichia coli and purified from periplasmic eluents by affinity chromatography. EGF-angiogenin and EGF-gly-angiogenin maintained receptor-binding activity of EGF and RNase activity of angiogenin in a single peptide and actively inhibited growth of human EGFR-positive target cells in culture. They are expected to have a very low immunogenic potential in humans because of their endogenous origin and also to have another potential therapeutic advantage because these fusion proteins may have overcome conventional immunotoxin and possess increased ability to penetrate because of their small size.