EXPRESSION OF HUMAN ACTIVIN-C PROTEIN IN INSECT LARVAE INFECTED WITH A RECOMBINANT BACULOVIRUS

In order to generate dimeric recombinant transforming growth factor-be ta (TGF-beta) proteins, expensive eucaryotic cell systems, such as CHO cells, are usually used. An alternative represents the expression of such proteins in insects using a baculovirus expression system. In thi s study, recombinant human activin C protein was expressed in Noctuida e larvae. On SDS-PAGE, the expressed protein has a size of about 15 kD under reducing conditions and of about 20 kD under non-reducing condi tions. This suggests that activin C is expressed as a dimer and disulf ide bridges can be formed. Compared with expression in eucaryotic cell culture systems, expression in insect larvae presents a rapid and low cost method, without the need for expensive tissue culture scale-ups or special equipment. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.