Cloning and Expression of the Anti tumor Glycoprotein Gene of Streptococcus pyogenes Su in Escherichia coli

The structural gene for the streptococcal acid glycoprotein (SAGP), an antitumor glycoprotein produced by Streptococcus pyogenes Su, was cloned in Escherichia coli, and the nucleotide sequence was determined. The deduced amino acid sequence of SAGP was composed of 410 amino acids, and was highly homologous with colicin E1, a bacterial antimicrobial protein. The SAGP gene was subcloned into an expression plasmid and was expressed in E. coli. The gene product was demonstrated to have almost the same molecular weight and an immuno-chemical property with those of the native SAGP.