Expression, refolding, and characterization of a novel recombinant dual human stem cell factor

Abstract

A novel recombinant dual human stem cell factor (rdhSCF) gene which consisted of a full-length hSCF(1–165 aa) cDNA and a truncated hSCF (1–145 aa) cDNA, linked by a peptide (GGGGSGGGGSGG) coding region, was constructed and cloned into Escherichia coli expression vector pET-22b. The rdhSCF was expressed at high level in E. coli BL21( DE3) and existed mainly as inclusion bodies. The inclusion bodies were solubilized in urea and refolded by ion-exchange chromatography. After renaturation, the purity of the yielded rdhSCF was up to 90%. Cell proliferation assay showed that the specific activity of the rdhSCF was 2.86 × 10 5 U/mg, about 1.66 times as high as that of monomer rhSCF expressed in E. coli.