Skip to main content
Log in

An oriP expression vector containing the HIV-1 Tat/TAR transactivation axis produces high levels of protein expression in mammalian cells

  • Published:
Cytotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A mammalian gene expression vector based on cytomegalovirus (CMV)enhancer/promoter (CMVe/p) for the regulation of gene expression was further optimized by adding oriP elements derived from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the Tat/TAR transactivation axisfrom human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Using the Tat/TAR-oriP expression vector, a transient transfection system was optimized for an extended culture period to produce large amounts of secreted IL-2SA (an IL-2 mutein) in HKB11 cells. We observed a 4-fold increase in IL-2SA expression in cells transfected with vectors containing the HIV-1 transactivation axis (Tat/TAR) or oriP elements alone when compared to cells transfected with the control vector having a CMVe/p. Cells transfected with expression vectors equipped with both oriP and Tat/TAR showed an 18-fold increase in IL-2SA expression. This transient transfection system maintained high secretion of IL-2SA for a period of 10-day with no appreciable loss in expression. We demonstrate that during this 10-day culture period, it was possible to produce 1–100 mg of proteins using 500 μg of plasmid DNA.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Berkhout B, Silverman R and Jeang K-T (1989) Tat trans-activates the human immunodeficiency virus through a nascent RNA target. Cell 53: 273–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cachianes G, Ho C, Weber, RF, Williams SR, Goeddel DV and Leung DW (1993) Epstein-Barr virus-derived vectors for transient and stable expression of recombinant proteins. BioTechniques 15: 255–259.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cherrington JM and Morcarski ES (1989) Human cytomegalovirus ie1 transactivates the alpha promoter-enhancer via an 18-basepair repeat element. J Virol 63: 1435–1440.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cho MS (2000) Human hybrid host cell for mammalian gene expression. United States Patent No. 6,136,599.

  • Gendelman HE, Phelps W, Feigenbaum L, Ostrove JM, Adachi A, Howley PM, Khoury G, Ginsberg HS and Martin M (1986) Trans-activation of the human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat sequence by DNA virus. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83: 9759–9763.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gilardi P and Perricaudet M (1984) The E4 transcriptional unit of Ad2: far upstream sequences are required for its transactivation by E1A. Nucleic Acid Res 12: 7877–7888.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haseltine WA, Rosen CA, Sordroski JG, Wong-Staal F and Arya SK (1998) Nucleic acid encoding HIV-1 tat protein. United State Patent No. 5,801,056.

  • Kenney S, Kamine J, Holley-Guthrie E, Mar EC, Lin JC, Markovitz D and Pagano J (1989) The Epstein-Barr virus immediate-early gene product, BMLF1, acts in trans by a posttranscriptional mechanism which is reporter gene dependent. J Virol 63: 3870–3877.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lieberman PM, O'Hare P, Hayward GS and Hayward SD (1986) Promiscuous trans activation of gene expression by an Epstein-Barr virus-encoded early nuclear protein. J Virol 60: 140–148.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McArthur JG and Stanners CP (1991) A genetic element that increases the frequency of gene amplification. J Biol Chem 266: 6000–6005.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • O'Hare P and Hayward GS (1984) Expression of recombinant genes containing herpes simplex virus delayed-early and immediateearly regulatory regions and tran acivation by herpesvirus infection. J Virol 52: 522–531.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peterlin BM, Luciw PA, Barr PJ and Walker M (1986) D. Elevated levels of mRNA can account for the trans-activation of human immunodefciency virus. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83: 9734–9738.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rabson M, Heston L, and Miller G (1983) Identification of a rare Epstein-Barr virus variant that enhances early antigen expression in Raji cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87: 3660–3664.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruvolo V, Wang E, Boyle S and Swaminathan S (1998) Thre Epstein-Barr virus nuclear protein SM is both a posttranscriptional inhibitor and activator of gene expression. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 95: 8852–8857.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sugden WM (1987) Recombinant vector and eukaryotic host transformed thereby. United State Patent No. 4,686,186.

  • Tsang TC, Brailey JL, Vasanwala FH, Wu RS, Liu F, Clark PR, Meade-Tollin L, Luznick L, Stopeck AT, Akporiaye ET and Harris DT (2000) Construction of new amplifier expression vector for high levels of IL-2 gene expression. Int J Mol Med 5: 295–300.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yates J, Warren N, Reisman D and Sugden B (1984) A cis-acting element from the Epstein-Barr viral genome that permits stable replication of recombinant plasmids in latently infected cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 81: 3806–3810.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Myung-Sam Cho.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cho, MS., Yee, H., Brown, C. et al. An oriP expression vector containing the HIV-1 Tat/TAR transactivation axis produces high levels of protein expression in mammalian cells. Cytotechnology 37, 23–30 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016124911071

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016124911071

Navigation