PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF GENETIC VECTORS FOR THE EXPRESSION OF NERVE GROWTH FACTOR IN EUKARYOTIC CELLS

摘要

The invention provides replicable expression vectors for the expression of human .beta.-NGF, methods for producing human .beta.-NGF using them, the protein produced by the method and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the protein. The vectors, specifically plasmids pMSGphNGF, pSV40MTphNGF and pSV40phNGF, comprise a first DNA sequence which codes for human .beta.-NGF, a second DNA sequence which codes for prepro .beta.NGF and is fused to the 5' end of the first DNA sequence, and a promoter-enhancer regulatory element directly fused to the 5' end of the second DNA sequence. The vectors provide for expression of human prepro NGF of preferentially the form wherein initiation is from the methionine codon at position 121 relative to the prepro cleavage site, thus giving the protein preferentially expressed in human brain tissue.