EXPRESSION OF THE MOUSE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR-GAMMA CHAIN IN INSECT CELLS USING A BACULOVIRUS EXPRESSION VECTOR - COMPARISON WITH THE HUMAN COMMON GAMMA-CHAIN

The gene encoding the gamma-chain of the mouse Interleukin-2 receptor was expressed in lepidopteran insect cells using the baculovirus expre ssion vector system. The corresponding gene was inserted under the pol yhedrin promoter of the Autrographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis v irus and expressed in the Spodoptera frugiperda insect cell line Sf9 d uring viral infection, The recombinant receptor protein was identified by immunoblotting in cell lysates prepared from insect cells infected with the produced recombinant virus VL1392-mIL-2R gamma. Kinetic anal ysis demonstrated that the corresponding protein could be detected as an approximate to 50 kDa protein already at 24 h post-infection, Intri nsic labelling with [S-35]-methionine/cysteine and SDS-PAGE analysis o f the recombinant baculovirus infected insect cells verified the immun oblotting data, The expressed IL-2R gamma protein could also be determ ined on the surface of infected insect cells by flow cytometric analys is. Comparison of the molecular weights between baculovirus expressed human and mouse IL-2R gamma chains indicated differences in the glycos ylation pattern despite similar numbers of N-linked glycosylation site s.