Brief Reports
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 1, 2004; 10(21): 3188-3190
Published online Nov 1, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i21.3188
Expression of human augmenter of liver regeneration in pichia pastoris yeast and its bioactivity in vitro
Qi Liu, Hui-Feng Yu, Hang Sun, Hua-Feng Ma
Qi Liu, Hui-Feng Yu, Hang Sun, Hua-Feng Ma, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing 400010, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Excellent Youth Teacher Fund, Ministry of Education, No. 200065
Correspondence to: Professor Liu Qi, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Chongqing University of Medical Science, Chongqing 400010, China. liuqiz@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-23-63825854 Ext. 2225
Received: January 9, 2004
Revised: February 19, 2004
Accepted: February 26, 2004
Published online: November 1, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To construct a yeast expression system of human augmenter of liver regeneration (hALR) and to examine its bioactivity in vitro.

METHODS: With PCR and gene recombination techniques, cDNA of open reading frame of hALR was obtained from recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1-hALR and inserted into plasmid pPIC9. The cDNA of hALR from recombinant plasmid pPIC9-hALR demonstrated by sequencing was subcloned into plasmid pPIC9K. The recombinant plasmid pPIC9K-hALR was transformed into GS115 with electroporation. hALR was expressed by GS115 under the induction of 5 mL/L methanol and purified with ultrafiltration after it was analyzed by 15% SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The effects of hALR on in vitro proliferation of QGY and HepG2 cells were evaluated by 3H-TdR methods.

RESULTS: The correctness and integrity of recombinant plasmids pPIC9-hALR and pPIC9K-hALR were identified by restriction digestion, PCR and sequencing methods, respectively. hALR as a secretive protein was successfully expressed by GS115. Its molecular weight was about 15 ku and the target protein was about 60% of the total protein in the supernatant from GS115 with plasmid pPIC9K-hALR. The results of Western blot of hALR showed the specific band. The high qualitative hALR was obtained through ultrafiltration. hALR could stimulate in vitro proliferation of QGY and HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner, but there was a difference in reactivity to hALR between QGY and HepG2.

CONCLUSION: The hALR as a secretive protein can be successfully expressed by GS115. It may stimulate in vitro proliferation of QGY and HepG2 cells at a dose-dependent manner. But QGY and HepG2 cells have different reactivities to hALR.

Keywords: $[Keywords]