HIGH-LEVEL EXPRESSION OF HUMAN MCP-1 USING THE LCR MEL EXPRESSION SYSTEM/

We have expressed human monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (hMCP-1) in preerythroid mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) C88 cells using the locus co ntrol region/MEL expression system and studied the biological activity of the purified protein in a range of in vitro experimental systems. The recombinant hMCP-1 is expressed at high levels (similar to 10 mg/l iter) in this system and is modified in a manner which is very similar to native hMCP-1. We have developed a simple high-yielding two-step p urification route employing dye ligand and ion exchange chromatographi es which enables us to separate glycosylated and unglycosylated hMCP-1 . The purified glycosylated and unglycosylated forms of hMCP-1 have eq uivalent biological activities in all of the assay systems tested. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.