PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RECOMBINANT TURKEY PROLACTIN

1. Recombinant turkey prolactin (rctPRL) was produced as a fusion prot ein in E. coli, purified by affinity chromatography followed by cleava ge with thrombin. The final yield of the released rctPRL (>90% purity) was 1-2 mg/l of bacterial culture. 2. Recombinant tPRL co-migrated wi th the main immunoreactive band (25 kDa) in turkey pituitary extracts and was identical to natural tPRL except for the addition of three ami no acids (Gly-Ser-Ser) resulting from the cloning strategy at the amin o terminal end. 3. The bioactivity of the rctPRL was equipotent to ovi ne PRL in a rabbit mammary explant system and in the Nb2 lymphoma mito genic assay.