EXPRESSION OF RECOMBINANT HEMOGLOBIN IN YEAST

摘要

The invention is directed to a substantially pure mammalian globin chain or heme-binding fragment thereof. The invention is further directed to recombinant DNA vectors capable of expressing at least one globin chain or substantially homologous variant thereof in yeast. The invention also relates to methods for expressing at least one globin chain or substantially homologous variant thereof in yeast. Expressed alpha-like globin and beta-like globin chains or variants thereof may be combined with a source of heme to produce hemoglobin or a substantially homologous variant thereof. Additionally, expressed gamma-globin chains may be combined with a source of heme to produce hemoglobin or a substantially homologous variant thereof. The invention also relates to methods for expressing hemoglobin or variants thereof in yeast where the heme is produced by the yeast and ligated to globins to form hemoglobin in vivo. The hemoglobin produced by the methods of the present invention may be used in applications requiring a physiological oxygen carrier such as in blood substitute solutions and as in plasma expanders or in applications requiring a physiological oxygen carrier.