A PROCESS FOR ENDOPROTEOLYTICALLY PROCESSING (PRECURSOR) PROTEINS AND FOR THE (MICRO)BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTION OF PROTEINS

摘要

The invention is based on the finding that furin belongs to a family of endoproteolytically active enzymes and relates to a process for the in vitro cleavage of a protein by treating the protein in the presence of Ca<2><+> ions with furin or furin-like enzyme, or an endoproteolytically active fragment, derative or fusion protein of furin or furin-like enzyme. The invention can be used for the (micro)biological production of a protein by culturing genetically engineered cells expressing a proform of the protein as well as furin or a furin-like enzyme and isolating the protein formed. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents or adjuvants, as well as an endoproteolytically active amount of furin or a furin-like enzyme, or a fragment or derivative of furin or furin-like enzyme having an endoproteolytic activity. $$