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Human B-Cell Stimulatory Factor-2 Expressed in Escherichia Coli

Bio/Technology volume 6, pages 806–809 (1988)Cite this article

Abstract

Human B-cell stimulatory factor-2 (BSF-2/ IL-6) is an important cytokine regulating the growth and differentiation of cells as diverse as lymphocytes, hepatocytes, and neurons. Recently its aberrant expression has been correlated with several diseases. Starting with a previously isolated cDNA clone encoding human BSF-2, we constructed two types of plasmids from which peptides containing BSF-2 were produced in Escherichia coli as human growth hormone (hGH) fusion proteins. The products were solubilized, and cleaved by factor Xa, a specific endopeptidase, to liberate Glu-Phe-Met-BSF-2 or Ala-BSF-2, which were purified to homogeneity. The recombinant products were indistinguishable from natural BSF-2 as assessed by their B-cell stimulatory activities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnology Research Laboratory, Tosoh Corporation, 2743-1, Hayakawa, Ayase-shi, Kanagawa-ken, Japan, 252

    Yoshihiro Asagoe, Kiyoshi Yasukawa, Takashi Saito, Naoko Maruo, Kenji Miyata, Toshiaki Kono, Toshio Miyake, Takao Kato, Hitoshi Kakidani & Mitsuaki Mitani

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  1. Yoshihiro Asagoe
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  2. Kiyoshi Yasukawa
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  3. Takashi Saito
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  4. Naoko Maruo
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  5. Kenji Miyata
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  6. Toshiaki Kono
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  7. Toshio Miyake
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  8. Takao Kato
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  10. Mitsuaki Mitani
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Asagoe, Y., Yasukawa, K., Saito, T. et al. Human B-Cell Stimulatory Factor-2 Expressed in Escherichia Coli. Nat Biotechnol 6, 806–809 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0788-806

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